<![CDATA[Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber?]]>Is becoming an echo chamber? This post from @carnage4life has me questioning our community. The Mastodon team is finally getting some traction, the product improvements are increasing, The is improving, yet people posting on multiple platforms are making comments like this. It's confusing.

I *know* people here don't want this to be a classic social media-clone but we'd *like* journalists to be here right? They aren't coming with examples like this!

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]]>https://caint.ie/topic/08bfe28f-ce85-4b25-abda-e67a54fb2b94/is-mastodon-becoming-an-echo-chamberRSS for NodeTue, 07 Apr 2026 22:05:19 GMTSun, 05 Apr 2026 14:16:34 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:09:15 GMT]]>@scottjenson @Gargron yeah, count me as one who disagrees. Let’s do more to keep people out who are using tech that destroys the environment, sucks, is based on theft, and disempowers workers. To any AI enthusiasts reading this, fuck off.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/kdwarn/statuses/116365469646879864https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/kdwarn/statuses/116365469646879864Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:09:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:58:15 GMT]]>@Valent @scrottie @JoBlakely @xgranade @danirabbit @scottjenson I mean. Isn't truth social just mastodon with federation turned off? Anyone can do this. They (truth social) at least had enough sense (surprising!) to preemptively defederate themselves from everyone else.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://shellsharks.social/users/afterdark/statuses/116365426389820429https://caint.ie/post/https://shellsharks.social/users/afterdark/statuses/116365426389820429Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:58:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:24:28 GMT]]>@CptSuperlative
This topic has spiraled into something that I can't even track. It started out as a curiosity: why was there more engagement on other platforms? What was different? Part of the motivation is that I've spoken to lots of folks that have tried and left the fediverse, mostly because of reply guys or generally feeling unsafe.

What I've noticed is that the "Fedi-way" is to block and ignore which I think most people do. Anyone can join! If we don't like you we'll ignore (or ban) you. I actually agree with that.

But what I've noticed is that some topics, like content warnings, Alt text, and yes, AI seem different. They aren't ignored, they are actively policed. They form part of the culture that is heavily defended.

Somehow related (sorta?) are journalists. There is this undercurrent than anyone 'promoting' their work is wrong. It's not a huge problem, I'm just noticing it in comments.

@kcarruthers @RealGene

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365293550795035https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365293550795035Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:24:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:22:58 GMT]]>@scottjenson @Gargron who is preventing an AI community from forming? They can just as easily spin up their own instances and talk and boost each other. The only thing they can't do is force the rest of us to interact with them.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://veganism.social/users/november/statuses/116365287661457178https://caint.ie/post/https://veganism.social/users/november/statuses/116365287661457178Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:22:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:15:52 GMT]]>@rakoo
and I totally agree with you!

@RealGene @kcarruthers @CptSuperlative

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365259749173962https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365259749173962Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:15:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:58:19 GMT]]>@bitzero @elrohir Well said. I totally agree with you.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365190748962113https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365190748962113Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:58:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:55:22 GMT]]>@szczurtorebkowy My point was vague I'll admit. Thank you for asking. My initial point was more curiosity. Why is it that this person (whatever their topic) was getting so much more traction elsewhere?

Clearly masto HATES AI (in any form). I got caught in the crossfire and people seemed to think I wanted people to AI more (no) or that some people deserved "engagement" or more interaction (again no)

I've talked to so many people that tried Mastodon and left, mostly due to reply guys getting in the face. It's a problem. There is a also very complex problem the Black Twitter migration and how they didn't feel safe.

So I'm "kicking the tires" trying to understand where this unwelcomeness is coming from, what form it takes. Do people actively chase AI people? I doubt it. Most people are live and let live. But so many people came out in my replies and said "throw the bastards out" I was a bit shocked.

The topic grew as the intolerance became blatent.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365179105871756https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365179105871756Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:55:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:45:49 GMT]]>@mattwilcox
That was a very helpful reply thank you. Let's start with obvious agreements: we need more moderator tools. Could not agree more. They can't come fast enough.

As to my second bullet point, I'm not putting words in peoples mouths. I'm a bit tired to collect the URLs by I got several comments that literally said "We don't want more tolerance" which was shocking to me. I truly hope they are in the minority.

I likely shouldn't have leaned on AI, it's just too radioactive a topic. But it did show off the pure vehemence (there are some scary people out there) The more mild form was "yeah, we want tolerance for X, but Y can fuck right off to hell" which isn't exact tolerance...

In the end, I'll be clear, I fucked this up. I had a noble idea and I said it in a vague radioactive way where the reactions actually proved my points but I certainly didn't win any hearts. I have to own that.
@sfabel

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365141600686462https://caint.ie/post/https://social.coop/users/scottjenson/statuses/116365141600686462Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:45:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:36:26 GMT]]>@elrohir @scottjenson @Gargron

I am a tech journalist, a tech writer and a software developer. Sometimes I work with AI stuff, sometimes I write about it on fedi. Reactions have been mixed, mostly on the negative side. I understand why, because AI cannot simply be seen as a neutral tech. There's too much around it, and honest tech and journalism people cannot - and should not - pretend otherwise. It's multidimensional chess.

Most people are against all things AI on fedi, yes - at least on the fedi I know. I see this as freedom of thinking and expression, provided it does not become digital violence and harassment. But I see nothing stopping anyone who wants to write about AI. I suppose that there are enough people tooting about AI to make conversations, on some instances more than on others.

But people have the right to dislike and actively avoid (block) those conversations. Ultimately, I think people have the right to have their own safe digital spaces. Avoiding specific stuff is a part of this safety.

On the other hand, if the issue here is "tech people want to talk about their favourite stuff but do not get the same traction as on [whatever]", I personally - very personally - think it's the same issue we've been talking about from Masto Day 1. Here it's different: it's about conversations, not algorithmically growing audiences. But that's why we're here, in the end.

That said, peace and love y'all. We agree to disagree and so on.]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://corteximplant.net/objects/c60212a7-4bc2-4a70-b65d-b7f9e4c84a82https://caint.ie/post/https://corteximplant.net/objects/c60212a7-4bc2-4a70-b65d-b7f9e4c84a82Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:36:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:16:34 GMT]]>@scottjenson @nikclayton I don’t see how you reached the conclusion that people aren’t ALSO ignoring him? Or are you saying you wish more people ignored him instead of replying? If so, I don’t see how that would be better for anyone.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mas.to/users/argentum/statuses/116365026579341106https://caint.ie/post/https://mas.to/users/argentum/statuses/116365026579341106Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:16:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:31:46 GMT]]>@scottjenson The "problem" is that e.g. AI enthusiasts, right-wing loons, fascists, &c. &c. fundamentally just aren't very popular people. In polite society they end up shutting up. It's the algorithms on commercial sites that make them seem popular (aka divisive and engagement-generating). If you judge mastodon against these engagement-generating sites then you're judging against a skewed idea of what "normal" looks like.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://wandering.shop/users/molybdomantic/statuses/116364850385301296https://caint.ie/post/https://wandering.shop/users/molybdomantic/statuses/116364850385301296Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:31:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:26:05 GMT]]>@danirabbit @scottjenson you are demanding your ideology to be prioritized at the expense of everyone else

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://gts.todayiwilllaunchmyinfantsonintoorbit.com/users/decay/statuses/01KNMK3KPHVG9KW3GM321YJPTAhttps://caint.ie/post/https://gts.todayiwilllaunchmyinfantsonintoorbit.com/users/decay/statuses/01KNMK3KPHVG9KW3GM321YJPTATue, 07 Apr 2026 18:26:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:25:56 GMT]]>@scottjenson @dalias @pmdj I dunno who's in your bubble, very few of the fedizens I follow are old white guys.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://wandering.shop/users/molybdomantic/statuses/116364827470014919https://caint.ie/post/https://wandering.shop/users/molybdomantic/statuses/116364827470014919Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:25:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:25:47 GMT]]>@scottjenson @carnage4life if I pretend I can unpack everyone's brains lol I think the problem with a take like this is that two people doing basically the same thing might have wildly different experiences on Mastodon. Maybe because of the tech, federation, time of posts, reach, luck, who knows. Partially, I also feel like it's because here no one is trying to "social media" the "right way" if that makes sense. On other platforms there is a lot more conformity as people try to fit in and get followers and be popular getting likes etc. here people don't care as much?

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.nervesocket.com/users/ThaMunsta/statuses/116364826890889120https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.nervesocket.com/users/ThaMunsta/statuses/116364826890889120Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:25:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:25:10 GMT]]>@danirabbit @scottjenson you are asking for an echo chamber. You are asking for this roundly hated bullshit that is being violently imposed on us to be prioritized by the individual poor bastards - like myself - running elephant network instances in the same manner as it is on fascist shitholes like Twitter

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://gts.todayiwilllaunchmyinfantsonintoorbit.com/users/decay/statuses/01KNMK1YJRKHDD6TNT7XMP9J1Jhttps://caint.ie/post/https://gts.todayiwilllaunchmyinfantsonintoorbit.com/users/decay/statuses/01KNMK1YJRKHDD6TNT7XMP9J1JTue, 07 Apr 2026 18:25:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:10:30 GMT]]>@sloanlance @bp @scottjenson the fun thing is: it is even not the German flag 😉.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.world/ap/users/115886352050038648/statuses/116364766772743347https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.world/ap/users/115886352050038648/statuses/116364766772743347Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:10:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:51:40 GMT]]>@scottjenson @kcarruthers @CptSuperlative @RealGene Which Is good right?

It is a clear indication of "engagement" from Fediverse users.

Something you suggested (that other people thought) was lacking?

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.social/users/the_wub/statuses/116364692702729451https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.social/users/the_wub/statuses/116364692702729451Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:51:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:49:17 GMT]]>@scottjenson @codinghorror So when you compared your struggle to the struggle of POC you were baiting on purpose to poke the bear.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.world/ap/users/116047723328741540/statuses/116364683366585258https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.world/ap/users/116047723328741540/statuses/116364683366585258Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:49:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:40:17 GMT]]>@scottjenson @dalias @pmdj Scott - thanks for initiating this conversation, it's been interesting to follow and reading/understanding everyone elses viewpoint.

I think you're under-estimating the culture of this place and what drives people here. People have specifically chosen Mastodon precisely because it's not the other places. I'm here because I'm tired of low-quality click-engagement articles/links and actually want to engage with 'real' humans who are here because they want to be here and not because they're trying to sell me something (even if that's only a clickthrough).

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodonapp.uk/users/tangerine_sedge/statuses/116364647973104587https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodonapp.uk/users/tangerine_sedge/statuses/116364647973104587Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:40:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:27:42 GMT]]>@scrottie
Also, no one is denying anyone the right to set up their own cryptofascist or ai-shilling server. Just no-one can be forced to federate with it. There is free speech, but listening is also optional 🤷
@JoBlakely @xgranade @danirabbit @scottjenson

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://defcon.social/users/Valent/statuses/116364598444537950https://caint.ie/post/https://defcon.social/users/Valent/statuses/116364598444537950Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:27:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:18:58 GMT]]>@Jakenke
All theory, no praxis makes castles in the air, illusions & Ponzi schemes, bubbles, and structures without integrity doomed to fail. They lack substance, are all facade.

@danirabbit @scottjenson

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.social/users/JoBlakely/statuses/116364564114370550https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.social/users/JoBlakely/statuses/116364564114370550Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:18:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:02:36 GMT]]>@JoBlakely @xgranade @danirabbit @scottjenson

I agree with you in theory, I wish all the nations of the world could all just get together and cooperate on mutually beneficial solutions. It’s the obvious rational route for everyone. But our best attempt at doing so (COP) has been a near total failure. Ideal solutions are useless without political will.

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Jakenke/statuses/116364499779150428https://caint.ie/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Jakenke/statuses/116364499779150428Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:02:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:01:35 GMT]]>@JoBlakely @xgranade @danirabbit @scottjenson
Scott, it seems like you are making yourself crystal clear.
Having values is not an "ideological purity test". Attacking having values as "ideological purity test" is itself a value -- a fascist one.
Do we need to make Fedi a safe place for vitamin hucksters? For horrible cults?
Do you understand the idea that some things are *toxic* to communities?
https://webcomicname.com/post/185588404109 , over and over again.
No one owES fascists a platform.
Again...
NO ONE OWES FASCISTS A PLATFORM.
This is the only place that Gates and Musks lackies aren't running. We like this way.
I know there's a lot of discussion of badjacketing and that discussion is valid, but people are often right when calling this out, and groups often get it right, and at this point, it's pretty blatant, even if you personally cannot see it.
If you feel more comfortable on Bluesky otoh, please feel free to step off.

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]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://bsd.network/users/scrottie/statuses/116364495802255659https://caint.ie/post/https://bsd.network/users/scrottie/statuses/116364495802255659Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:01:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Is #mastodon becoming an echo chamber? on Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:56:46 GMT]]>This is why I never follow any journalist on social media. They don't like it? Too bad. It's only RSS for me. @RealGene @scottjenson @patrick_h_lauke

]]>https://caint.ie/post/https://caneandable.social/users/WeirdWriter/statuses/116364476834975338https://caint.ie/post/https://caneandable.social/users/WeirdWriter/statuses/116364476834975338Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:56:46 GMT