this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2023
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The mastodon and lemmy content I’m seeing feels like 90% of it comes from people who are:

  • ~30 years old or older

  • tech enthusiasts/workers

  • linux users

There’s nothing wrong with that particular demographic or anything, but it doesn’t feel like a win to me if the entire fediverse is just one big monoculture.

I wonder what it is that is keeping more diverse users away? Is picking a server/federation too complicated? Or is it that they don’t see any content that they like?

Thoughts?

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[–] [email protected] 150 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

aka: early tech adopters!

these folk are always the ones trying new things, especially anti-corporate things. They aren't keeping people away. this is just how the bleeding edge of new technology. The communities natural grow out over time as more people show up and start to outnumber them. But it's thanks to them that niche new stuff gets supported in the first place while it builds up it's audience (and reduces the friction to joining)

[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In reddit's early days, it was exactly like this. I remember that it felt like a Linux user forum, but with some conspiracy theorists. I actually feel that lemmy is a little more diverse than that.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

My first interaction with reddit was to explain how ballistics work in a BF subreddit.

Man who knew how much time that comment cost me in my life.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago

Without hobbyists most all new recreational activities just won't take off. People don't become professionals and things don't become usable until those who have more passion and time than sense tackle it first.