Websites using Pleroma

Okay, let s dive into Pleroma. It s a fascinating piece of software in the decentralized social media space.

Pleroma Overview

Pleroma is a free, open-source, lightweight social media server software, often described as an alternative to Twitter. It s designed to be a part of the Fediverse, a network of interconnected, independent social media servers that communicate using the ActivityPub protocol.

Here s a breakdown of its key aspects:

• Decentralized: Unlike Twitter or Facebook, Pleroma isn t controlled by a single company. Instead, anyone can run their own Pleroma instance. This promotes user control, privacy, and resilience against censorship.
• Lightweight: Pleroma is known for its low resource requirements, meaning it can run on relatively modest servers, including older hardware. This makes it easier for individuals and smaller groups to host their own social media platforms.
• ActivityPub: This is the key to the Fediverse. It allows Pleroma servers to interact with other platforms using the same protocol, like Mastodon, Friendica, Pixelfed, and more. Users on different platforms can follow each other and interact.
• Focus on Text: While it can handle images and videos, Pleroma s core strength lies in text-based microblogging, similar to Twitter but with longer character limits.
• Customizable: Pleroma allows server administrators to customize their instances with themes, emojis, and moderation policies.
• User Privacy: Since users are not under the control of a large corporation, there is more control over personal data, with a focus on individual privacy.

Revenue (or Lack Thereof)

• No Direct Revenue for the Project: Pleroma itself is not a for-profit entity. The software is developed by a community of volunteers. There s no commercial product being sold.
• Individual Instance Revenue: Individual Pleroma instances may seek revenue through various methods. This is not directly related to the Pleroma software itself, but to the operation of particular servers.
  • Donations: Many instances rely on donations from users to cover server costs.
  • Premium Features/Hosting: Some instance administrators may offer premium accounts with additional features or paid hosting. However, this is a less common practice compared to other platforms in the Fediverse.

Alternatives

Pleroma operates in a crowded space of decentralized alternatives. Here are some notable competitors:

• Mastodon: The most well-known alternative to Twitter within the Fediverse. Mastodon has a larger user base and a more feature-rich interface than Pleroma. However, it is generally more resource-intensive to run.
• Friendica: Another Fediverse platform that focuses more on social networking than microblogging. It provides features akin to Facebook and has more emphasis on privacy and community control.
• Misskey/Calckey: These offer a more unique interface focused on real-time interaction and features such as reactions and quoting that are not in Mastodon or Pleroma.
• Akkoma/Firefish: Originally a fork of Misskey, these platforms have continued to develop unique features and a different UI approach.
• GNU Social: An older decentralized social platform that s also part of the Fediverse.
• Micro.blog: Not part of the Fediverse, but a simpler, paid, alternative for microblogging.

Pricing

• Free Software: Pleroma itself is free software, meaning you can download, install, and use it without paying for a license.
• Instance Costs: However, running a Pleroma instance has costs associated with:
  • Server Hosting: You need to pay for a server to host the Pleroma software. The costs can vary based on server resources, the size of your user base, and the hosting provider you choose.
  • Domain Name: You ll likely want a domain name for your instance.
  • Maintenance: You might need technical assistance, which could be paid if you cannot do it yourself.

Customer Care Details

• Community-Driven Support: Since there is no central company, support is primarily provided by the Pleroma community.
• No Official Support Team: There isn t a paid customer support team.
• Main Support Channels:
  • Github: For reporting bugs and suggesting features.
  • Matrix/IRC/Telegram Channels: There are community-operated chat channels for getting support and asking questions. These will vary, and some might exist just for the user of a given instance of Pleroma.
  • Documentation: The Pleroma project provides documentation, but the best resources are often contributed by community members.
  • Instance Admin Support: If you re a user of a specific instance, your first port of call will be the admin of that instance.

Key Takeaways

• Decentralization is Core: Pleroma is a good option if you value decentralized control of your social media presence.
• Lightweight and Efficient: It is designed to be run on low-cost server configurations.
• Community Support: Don t expect formal support. You ll rely on the community and instance admins.
• Not For Everyone: If you need very feature-rich or user-friendly platforms, Mastodon or a centralized social media option might be more appropriate.

Let me know if you have any more questions or want to dive deeper into a particular aspect of Pleroma!