Free Our Feeds: Social Media Without Billionaire Control
In a move to transform social media, technology advocates and celebrities have launched Free Our Feeds, a campaign designed to "save social media from billionaire capture." The project aims to raise $30 million over three years to support the development of a decentralized social media ecosystem powered by the AT Protocol, the open-source infrastructure behind the social network Bluesky.
The Mission: Decentralized Social Media
Free Our Feeds envisions a future where social media operates in the public interest, free from the control of private companies and billionaire investors. The funds raised will establish a public interest foundation to support the initiative and create an independently hosted infrastructure. This setup will ensure Bluesky users, developers, and researchers can access data and content regardless of future corporate decisions.
The Origins of Bluesky and the AT Protocol
Bluesky began as a research project under former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and became an independent entity in 2021. Its development of the AT Protocol provides a decentralized, open-source framework designed to support interoperable social apps. Bluesky itself operates as a social network built atop this infrastructure, attracting both user growth and millions in funding.
However, despite its promise, critics argue that venture capital backing could compromise Bluesky’s long-term independence. Wikipedia co-founder and Free Our Feeds supporter Jimmy Wales highlights the importance of safeguarding Bluesky’s technology, stating, “The AT Protocol could offer a new pathway for the social web, but it needs to be freed from the whims of any one company or group of billionaires.”
Governance and Leadership
The Free Our Feeds initiative will be governed by a group of nine custodians, including notable figures such as Nabiha Syed and Mark Surman from the Mozilla Foundation. These custodians will oversee the project’s governance and ensure that its goals align with the public interest.
A Broader Push for Decentralization
Free Our Feeds is part of a larger trend toward decentralizing social media ownership and governance. Platforms like Mastodon, which also operate on decentralized principles, are moving further away from traditional single-ownership models. Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko recently announced that control of the platform will transfer to a nonprofit organization to ensure it remains independent.
This shift is occurring against the backdrop of significant changes in content moderation policies at Meta and the controversial transformation of X under Elon Musk’s leadership. As these centralized platforms grapple with user trust and governance challenges, initiatives like Free Our Feeds highlight the growing demand for alternatives.
A Vision for the Future of Social Media
Free Our Feeds marks a critical step toward creating a decentralized, user-focused social media ecosystem. By promoting open access to data, creating innovation, and removing corporate and billionaire control, the campaign seeks to redefine how social networks operate.
While the path to a decentralized social web may take time, the initiative represents a growing movement to prioritize transparency, independence, and public interest in the digital age.
