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Does it feel like the fediverse is exclusively used by older tech nerds? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by gamer@lemm.ee to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

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The mastodon and lemmy content I’m seeing feels like 90% of it comes from people who are:

~30 years old or older
tech enthusiasts/workers
linux users

There’s nothing wrong with that particular demographic or anything, but it doesn’t feel like a win to me if the entire fediverse is just one big monoculture.

I wonder what it is that is keeping more diverse users away? Is picking a server/federation too complicated? Or is it that they don’t see any content that they like?

Thoughts?

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[-] noodle@feddit.uk 32 points 1 year ago

I think so. I think younger users trust official branded apps a lot more so actually see the Reddit app as safer. Despite how easy tech people think lemmy and mastodon are, picking a server just isn't a feature to non-tech people - it's an obstacle to getting started.

The lack of content is a problem, but the lack of community feeling is the actual offputting part. Having bots repost things from Reddit kills the organic feeling of interacting with another user.

I'll probably be flamed but I do think having such a homogeneous userbase is negative. It means you don't get a wide array of experiences and viewpoints. People bang on about echo chambers online, but if you are in a club full of old white guys then you're in one!

I'd like think we can make these platforms as welcoming for everyone of all backgrounds, genders, etc, but there's just some things we can't understand without having those viewpoints being represented.

[-] hothomir@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I feel this, I'm a 25 y/o software engineer and being here on Lemmy feels alright, but my niches are plenty of other things (camping, stained glass, graphic designing, film photography, etc) that I haven't really seen here at all. Thats where I find Reddit to be more diverse for me, even Instagram!

sure I could start communities relating to those niches on here, but I've never done online modding like that and honestly never will lmao. I don't have the bandwidth (mentally and logistically) to do those things

[-] noodle@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't blame you. You cant be solely responsible for the communities you used to be a part of, nor should you be expected to. I think Reddit is still gonna be the home hub for a lot of communities.

IMO another issue with Lemmy is fragmentation of communities. It's not really much fun to join a group and be one of 4 followers and a bot poster. I'd post more, but I still feel like I'm finding my way around the platform. Moderation sounds like a joyless endevour, so props to those who step up!