I know there are a few FB alternative networking sites, such as MeWe and Mastedon. I see more shortcomings with all of them than benefits. Has anyone stumbled across a really great alternative for social networking? Has anyone been on a framework-based social site, such as one using Dolphin or jCommunity; or found a really great framework to set one up?
BEST FB Alternative - existing or framework
- Thread starter Mattit
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As existing social networks take control away and tend to abuse users, the better option is really to run or flock to another, ss long as you're comfortable with smaller communities. This data transfer initiative should eventually easen individual and mass migrations, so far no service or script appears to support that yet.
One notable contender is paid script SocialEngine. It's usable in a number of configurations - host it yourself or as SaaS, replicate the featureset and experience of pinterest, facebook, reddit in a package oldschool webmasters can feel comfortable managing, includes several content types expected on a sn. See this demo for an idea what to expect of the fb-style experience.
One notable contender is paid script SocialEngine. It's usable in a number of configurations - host it yourself or as SaaS, replicate the featureset and experience of pinterest, facebook, reddit in a package oldschool webmasters can feel comfortable managing, includes several content types expected on a sn. See this demo for an idea what to expect of the fb-style experience.
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I'm actually in the middle of compiling a list of all the viable FB alternatives around at the moment. Let the coffee filter through and I'll get back on it 
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Interesting, I look forward to the list
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I wouldn't. I'm looking at the different ones classed as viable options and, gotta be honest, the majority suck. I should have it posted up in a couple of hours - just have to bow to the demands of my editor and do some work before she yells at me again
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I wouldn't. I'm looking at the different ones classed as viable options and, gotta be honest, the majority suck. I should have it posted up in a couple of hours - just have to bow to the demands of my editor and do some work before she yells at me again
The ones that I saw pretty much fell into the "it sucks" category, as well. That's why I was hoping that someone might have a decent one. And so far, the SocialEngine that LeadCrow suggested seems to be the closest so far.
I wish I would have stuck with my PHP skills. With the ideas that I have, I'm fairly certain, packaged together, it would blow away most of the options out there. But, alas, it's not the language I know most of.
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It's not cost-effective to run live services with high concurrency on php, which might be why so many new scripts adopted new frameworks like node.
I'd like to add an underlooked explanation as to why there appears to be a shortage of social network: many have been created as app-only ecosystems or heavily obfuscate that their content can be browsed without an app (see twitter.com for example). It's a lot easier to promote both a site and app on mobile since you gain direct access to many exploitable parameters like contactlists, geolocation, mobile wallets, browsers and OSes lacking support for ad blockers... The app economy has a much lower barrier to entry and higher growth and monetization potential than classic SNs.
So we dont have an actual shortage of alternatives, it's the definition of a 'social network' that's fuzzy so people to focus on alternatives' capability to substitute for their main SN and closely match its featureset - even the useless fluff and antiuser features that chased them away.
I'd like to add an underlooked explanation as to why there appears to be a shortage of social network: many have been created as app-only ecosystems or heavily obfuscate that their content can be browsed without an app (see twitter.com for example). It's a lot easier to promote both a site and app on mobile since you gain direct access to many exploitable parameters like contactlists, geolocation, mobile wallets, browsers and OSes lacking support for ad blockers... The app economy has a much lower barrier to entry and higher growth and monetization potential than classic SNs.
So we dont have an actual shortage of alternatives, it's the definition of a 'social network' that's fuzzy so people to focus on alternatives' capability to substitute for their main SN and closely match its featureset - even the useless fluff and antiuser features that chased them away.
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The platform Diaspora is a social world online that puts your data back in your own hands, according to its own slogan .
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I personally have ran a site using this:
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haqzore has a list of scripts although I can't find the thread presently.
Edit: Found it. https://www.theadminzone.com/threads/tblos-the-big-list-of-scripts-software.151872/
Edit: Found it. https://www.theadminzone.com/threads/tblos-the-big-list-of-scripts-software.151872/
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If you go to Envato / Code Canyon (same company as ThemeForest), there are several self hosted applications to mimic a social network. My personal favorite right now is Wowonder.
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It has never really taken off.
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take a look at phpfox its a paid software, and its a facebook clone. support is very nice and helpfull. I dont know of any unpaid software that is good.
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I discovered "Gab." Its nice, it needs more work before it becomes as stable as Twitter. I like the site, because of the owner's attitude in general. He's not interested in the subversion of U.S. He seems to want the service to be clean.
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I've checked that out. Good stuff. My favorite though, and very well featured and maintained is Sngine.
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I discovered "Gab." Its nice, it needs more work before it becomes as stable as Twitter. I like the site, because of the owner's attitude in general. He's not interested in the subversion of U.S. He seems to want the service to be clean.
You mean he wants a place for right-wingers to post all their hate, conspiracies and insanity. Truly great stuff. Hopefully it keeps some of them off other sites I guess which would be one positive.
Great forum TAZ has turned into it seems.
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You are ridiculous. You are just as brainwashed as the leftists that I run into everyday. Twitter is a left echochamber, go there and hang out with losers. Yeah, do that.
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I don't even understand how twitter works. I like Instagram tho, but it seems meaningless. lol
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Your comment there, Icon, seems overly personal. It also appears to be factually incorrect.
The sorts of groups which make use of Gab is rather suggestive (an understatement) of a platform friendly to hate groups and conspiracy theorists. I, personably, do not care in which part of the political spectrum a hate group might be located, or the political leanings of vaccine disinformation mongers. There are, for example, plenty of far-left anti-Semites and 'antivaxxer' Communist, sandal-wearing, vegan hippies too.
Gab (social network) - Wikipedia
I have a feeling you will disapprove of Wikipedia being used as a reference point. But, I used Wikipedia quite deliberately because of their 'neutral stance' and referencing policies. So, even if you might dismiss Wikipedia, maybe make use the numerous references in the Wiki article as jumping-off points.
The above is not necessarily an argument against the existence of Gab (but it most definitely not in support of the site either) - as I lean quite heavily towards free speech principles. But to claim Gab is not a safe haven for hate groups is plain wrong - it is peppered with them.
And, how is Twitter an echo chamber, but Gab is not? Rhetorical question.
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The only difference between Twitter and Gab is that there are more people on Twitter, thus there are more people of whatever political affiliation one does not like, to be found and disgusted by.
For every far-(direction), there are plenty of proponents on both Twitter and Gab. There are plenty of haters of all kinds, equal opportunity bigots, if you will, on both platforms. It's just because there are less people on Gab fundamentally, there's less haters to run into thus it appears better. But it isn't, they're both havens of horrible human beings (and some nice people) like most social networks.
For every far-(direction), there are plenty of proponents on both Twitter and Gab. There are plenty of haters of all kinds, equal opportunity bigots, if you will, on both platforms. It's just because there are less people on Gab fundamentally, there's less haters to run into thus it appears better. But it isn't, they're both havens of horrible human beings (and some nice people) like most social networks.