There are no instances in ATProto (overreacted.io)

Article summary

The article explains the concept of atproto and how it differs from traditional social media platforms like Mastodon. It highlights that atproto does not have instances in the same way Mastodon does, and instead uses a decentralized approach with separate hosting and app servers. The author argues that this approach allows for more flexibility and scalability. The article also touches on the idea of relays and how they can be used to optimize the network.

Main themes

• Decentralized social media
• atproto vs Mastodon
• Relays and scalability
• Federation vs decentralization
• Moderation and censorship

What commenters say

• The concept of instances is not applicable to atproto in the same way it is to Mastodon, and this difference is a key aspect of atproto's design.
• Running a relay in atproto is not expensive and can be done for a relatively low cost, making it accessible to individuals and small organizations.
• The use of relays in atproto can be seen as a form of centralization, and some argue that this undermines the decentralized nature of the platform.
• Atproto's approach to decentralization is more flexible and scalable than traditional federated platforms like Mastodon, but may also introduce new challenges and complexities.
• The distinction between federation and decentralization is important, and atproto represents a more truly decentralized approach to social media.
• The ability to host a relay with a different moderation policy is a key advantage of atproto, allowing for more diversity and flexibility in content moderation.