In the pre-social media era, online forums ruled our online interactions. Over time, platforms have evolved, but millions still actively participate in forums. In a groundbreaking move, leading forum software provider, NodeBB, has announced their inclusion in the open social web, better known as the fediverse.
The fediverse is a reservoir for apps such as Mastodon (a decentralized Twitter alternative), Pixelfed (an Instagram rival), and PeerTube (an open YouTube competitor), among others. These services are ‘federated’ and rely on the ActivityPub protocol, fostering decentralized social networking.
The shift towards decentralized social media platforms has seen the ActivityPub protocol welcomed by an array of software applications and services. This includes WordPress, Flipboard, Medium, Instagram Threads app by Meta, and more. Now, NodeBB adds its name to this growing list, giving forum operators the option to partake in the decentralized social web.
NodeBB co-founder Julian Lam reveals that the concept emerged in mid-2023 when a vision for cross-connecting NodeBB forums was conceived. Initially, this service was intended to be centralized. However, further research led Lam to Mastodon and ActivityPub, where the idea of decentralization took root.
Additionally, Lam attributes NodeBB’s swift adaptation of the ActivityPub protocol in part to funding provided by the NLNet Foundation. A core feature of NodeBB, rather than an add-on like Discourse, all new forums created using NodeBB will now automatically federate within the broader open social web. Existing customers will also have the opportunity to interact with other NodeBB forums and any other ActivityPub-powered software like Mastodon.
Embracing a new era of forum interaction, NodeBB without a doubt, is broadening the boundaries of what forum software can do.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
