I’ve been thinking about the potential for a decentralized, federated version of the new social media platform Neptune.

For those unfamiliar, Neptune is a rising star in the social media world that’s gaining traction on Tiktok for its unique approach to content creation and distribution, especially given the whole TikTok situation.

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Here’s a quick overview:

What is Neptune?

  • A new social media app focused on decentralizing media
  • Empowers creators with customizable content feeds
  • Uses “ghost metrics” to highlight work without the pressure of visible likes/shares
  • Aims to foster genuine connections and community
  • Similar to TikTok but with a stronger emphasis on integrity and user control
  • Has gained over 5,000 sign-ups and built an active Discord community

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The Fediverse Opportunity

Given the Fediverse’s commitment to decentralization and user empowerment, I wonder if there’s any potential to create a federated alternative that captures Neptune’s best features while leveraging the strengths of the Fediverse, or would we just be basically remaking Loops by Pixelfed?

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Some questions to consider:

  1. How could we implement customizable content feeds in a federated environment?
  2. Is there a way to incorporate “ghost metrics” or similar concepts to reduce social pressure?
  3. What existing Fediverse projects might serve as a foundation for this kind of platform?
  4. How can we ensure creator empowerment while maintaining the open, interconnected nature of the Fediverse?

I lack the technical skills, as well as the time, to tackle this myself, but I’m curious about the community’s thoughts.

Has anyone considered a project like this?

What challenges and/or opportunities do you see?

Looking forward to hearing your ideas.

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Neptune’s official website: https://theneptuneapp.com/

Neptune Discord: https://discord.gg/theneptuneapp

A discussion about Neptune on Linus Tech Tips forum: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1592379-new-social-media-app-neptune/

https://youtu.be/GZRuRpzFslg

Neptune App TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theneptuneapp?_t=8sd66XMyQrG&_r=1