When the latest ills of social media are discussed, someone will inevitably bring up the fediverse - the decentralized ecosystem of alternative social networks like Mastodon - as the miracle cure.

Yet even a decade after its release, Mastodon remains largely unknown outside technical circles. The reality is that the fediverse solves few (if any) problems while introducing many new ones - and it starts with fundamental issues most advocates overlook.

The real problems with mainstream platforms

Mainstream social media platforms aren’t evil for evil’s sake. Their noxious behaviors stem from a single root cause: an advertising-based business model that prioritizes engagement at the expense of its users.

This manifests as:

• Opaque algorithms that prioritize engagement-maximizing content over user preferences
• Inconsistent moderation that often tolerates offensive content despite user...