@erik the issue is, there's over 20,000 Fedi instances, unless you set every post to private, there's no chance in hell you can be sure who is/isn't reading your posts or harvesting your data. This is a completely open platform by design.
@BeAware: exactly
@erik the programming behind the Mastodon platform is all about broadcasting information out without much in the way of control over who gets it.
You can not block those actors on this platform, unfortunately. It’s simply not how they structured the system here, and it’s really important for users to realize that.
Effectively, if you participate here, they will have access to it.
I criticize that design, but it is what it is. Other platforms like BlueSky might be better about this, but it’s how this platform decided to operate.
@volkris @erik you CAN technically block this from happening, either by joining an instance that blocks the instances you don't trust or by running your own instance.
If these aren't options for you, you can always make your posts private.
There's plenty of control over who gets to see your posts, it's just that a lot of people think that Fedi is some sort of "bastion of privacy" when that's just not the case by default.
@BeAware right, if you form a splinter Fediverse made up of only instances that are 100% trustworthy, that have all implemented security policies to lock down ways their users might be using their services, then you can block this from happening.
But that seems pretty unrealistic to the way people are imagining Fediverse growing.
A single bad acting instance in the whitelisted network, or a single hacked instance, is all it takes to undermine that firewall.
@BeAware exactly, and that’s what bothers me so much, a lack of transparency for users to make up their own minds.
There are far too many users on here posting content under the belief that it’s much more private and safeguarded than it actually is, that end up surprised to hear how little control they actually have.
I see it almost every day, and it really worries me.
@volkris truth.
We can only spread the facts and try not to be bias because we don't know the mindset of those we're trying to inform.
I am here on my own instance and I know what I can and can't control and how much control I have.
I do have lots of control, but I won't lie and say I KNOW exactly who has all my posts and profile info, but personally, I'm very public so that's not an issue for me.
Ever since I've gotten here, my goal has been to try to give people a reason to be here because the alternatives are shit in comparison, but with control overall, not necessarily with privacy.
Just keep telling people how it is and hopefully eventually, the majority will somewhat understand this wonderful platform we have and exactly why it is so much better than the alternatives.
@volkris @erik truth. There's lots of safeguards but it's definitely a personal thing if they're good enough for you or not.
I just try to be as transparent about the facts of the platform as much as I can because there's a lot of misconceptions.
I do enjoy this place and think it really deserves to grow as much as possible so everyone can experience what it's like to have a "safe space" for "you" because there's enough control to fine-tune your experience here, unlike most corporate options.
We want people to be here because the corporate options are worse in that regard specifically. Not because it's a bastion of privacy, but because you have the option to make it as open or closed as you see fit. You just have to know that the options are there and aren't default.