In the age before social media, online forums were the go-to platform for online discourse. Even today, millions of forum sites thrive on the internet, making the news that NodeBB, a leading forum software provider, is joining the fediverse (also known as the open social web) particularly noteworthy.
What is the Fediverse?
The fediverse is a network of independent, user-owned social media platforms that communicate with each other using a common protocol called ActivityPub. This allows users on one platform to follow users on another, even if the platforms themselves are entirely separate.
The fediverse has gained popularity in recent years as users have grown wary of centralized social media platforms controlled by big tech companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) and X (formerly Google). Platforms like Mastodon (a decentralized Twitter alternative), Pixelfed (an Instagram alternative), and PeerTube (an open-source YouTube competitor) are all part of the fediverse.
The ActivityPub protocol underpins these "federated" services, enabling a decentralized approach to social networking. WordPress, WordPress.com, Flipboard, Medium, and even Meta's Instagram Threads app have all adopted ActivityPub integrations. Substack competitor Ghost is also working on federation.
With NodeBB's integration, forum operators now have the option to participate in the decentralized social web.
NodeBB's Journey to the Fediverse
The idea for NodeBB's integration with the fediverse originated in mid-2023, according to NodeBB co-founder Julian Lam. Lam initially envisioned a centralized service connecting NodeBB forums. However, after further research into the concept, Lam discovered Mastodon and ActivityPub and realized the project's potential for decentralization.
Financial backing from the NLNet Foundation expedited NodeBB's implementation of the ActivityPub protocol. "Their funding was critical in providing the financial security to experiment with ActivityPub and participate in developer communities like SWICG, FediForum, and many others," Lam wrote.
What Does This Mean for NodeBB Users?
Going forward, all new forums created with NodeBB will automatically federate with the broader open social web. Existing users will have the option to connect with other NodeBB forums and any other ActivityPub-powered platform, such as Mastodon.
In contrast to another popular forum solution, Discourse, federation will be a core feature of NodeBB, not just an add-on.
"We opted to make this a core feature instead of a plugin because many changes were made to the core to support the concept of even accepting content from outside itself," Lam explained in his announcement.
The new functionality is available in NodeBB version 4 and was used to federate Lam's announcement from NodeBB to Mastodon.
The Scope of NodeBB
Since NodeBB is open-source software, Lam acknowledges that they lack precise user numbers. (Additionally, they prioritize user privacy and avoid tracking such information.) However, a rough estimate can be obtained by examining the download statistics for the default NodeBB theme. While not a direct correlation to the number of NodeBB installations, the project saw 4,582 downloads last week, indicating a significant user base.
NodeBB currently powers forum communities for prominent organizations like Opera, Moz, MLB: The Show, Bleeding Edge, The Daily WTF, Vivaldi, f.lux, and many more.
The Future of Decentralized Social Networking
The integration of NodeBB into the fediverse represents a significant step toward a more decentralized social media landscape. This shift empowers users to control their data and choose the platforms they interact with, fostering a more open and democratic online environment.
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