Fed up with Facebook? Ticked at Twitter? Diaspora* is up and running!

[JohnyCanuck]

By Bob Chandler

Last winter, I wrote in this space about Diaspora*, a new free software based, decentralized, privacy aware social networking service developed by four computer science students at New York University.

At the time, Diaspora* was in the very early "Alpha" stage of development and access to the service was by invitation only.

Right now, there are probably a couple of dozen "Pods" (servers) up and running on the net and for all intents and purposes, Diaspora* is open for business!

What's different about Diaspora*?

First of all, unlike Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and others, there is no single central server system that stores all of your personal data, logs what links you click on, or reads what you post both publicly and privately so that they can serve up advertising content to you.

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/radiorahim/2011/09/fed-facebook-ticked-twitter-diaspora-and-running

[frazzled]

1. Try writing a letter longhand

That is wicked whack, and really private. Plus it would help save the Post Office and ensure all those workers keep their jobs. ;)

Honestly, I'm still waiting for the world to get over social networking sites altogether.

[Webster Green]

2. I thought social networking sites were really fucking lame....until "Arab Spring".

I did a 180 degree flip when I saw "Facebook" scrawled on a wall in Egypt.

I've reconnected on Facebook with friends and relatives I haven't seen for a long time, and some nieces and nephews I've never even met before. That's pretty cool.

I like Twitter mostly for all the interesting links that get posted by the people I follow.

I bashed those sites relentlessly until recently. Now I'm into it. :shrug:

[tridim]

3. My new Cambodian in-laws all have Facebook T-Shirts

They LOVE social networking.

I feel like I know them even though we've never met.

[BillyJack]

4. Sure. Whatever.

"I feel like I know them even though we've never met."

:rofl:

That's PURE SALES-talk. BELIEVE IT! haha

[tridim]

5. Do you have 2 grand to fly around the world? I sure don't

[BillyJack]

7. You think two grand will take you "around the world" and you'll get to 'know'

your relatives?

If THAT is all it takes, where do I "buy" on to that? Groupon????

Social networking has its limits....tis true. You can't truly "KNOW" someone/love someone/respect someone through a message board. It's just an inlet....a channel.....to something better/broader, if we are brave enough.

Technology....use it for the good and then 'let it pass'.

[tridim]

9. I hope I never meet you IRL.

You kind of sound like a dick.

[BillyJack]

12. REALLY?!?! May your wish be granted....."I hope I never meet you IRL"

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Some clearly prefer the old fashioned means of communication.

[pipi_k]

17. So many cousins

I've never met either...we've connected on Facebook and I feel the same way...I feel like I know them even though we've never met.

Mainly because they're prolific posters....I mean prolific!

They post about everything....

:7


But I have lots of fun

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Yes, I can take out my quill pen and complain about my rickets.

And how I steamed across the ocean in less than a MONTH, by Jove!

Ah, teh good old days.

[slay]

6. I don't like social networking as it exists in the forms of Facebook and Twitter - but a site that

respected privacy - i could see that - if that was my kind of thing. i hope sites like this catch on and give people alternatives to Facebook and what not.

[truthwillout777]

8. and if you are tired of google news censorship

try
http://getsmartnews.com/
a collection of the alternative real news

[flamingdem]

10. So far too nerdy to attract users imo

Nerds often do not even get how nerdy they are. Go to the site you'll see.

[chillspike]

11. Here's an idea

How about everyone just make their own website and put what they want on it? Duh.

[JohnyCanuck]

15. Facebook stores up to 800 pages of personal data per user account

Facebook consistently reappears in the news with regards to privacy and the data it keeps on each of its users. For example, earlier this week an engineer working for the social network had to explain why Facebook tracks you even when you’re logged out.

While Facebook insists it does not share your details with anyone, would it surprise you to find the amount of data stored about each user may in fact total 800 pages? It certainly surprised me.

If you live in Europe, then you have the right under a European data protection law to request a copy of all information stored about you on any given service. In the case of Facebook, you can demand such information via the Personal Data Requests form.

The website Europe versus Facebook (EvF) decided to share the data it received in response to such a request, and the sheer amount of information is quite staggering. In total, the example PDF document that has been shared online is 880 pages long.

http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/facebook-stores-up-to-800-pages-of-personal-data-per-user-account-20110928/

[brooklynite]

16. If someone is ultimately making decisions about the feature set...

...someone will be complaining about it by next week.