Is there a better way for me to connect with the people I care about without having to give up my private nature?
This is what I'm exploring with this singular instance of a social network (despite its obvious lack of an official name).
this is a
social network
for one person
huh?
how it works
Like with other social networks — I post updates about my life, you get to see them, and sometimes we may want to exchange messages.
Unlike other social networks, however, ...
it's more private
1. It's home-made and self-hosted, allowing for maximum data ownership(*).
2. I can post something once and share it selectively. If I post a photo, I can choose to share it with only one person or as few or as many people as I may want, without having to send it to each person or group individually.
3. Any given person in my social circle doesn't see who else is in it and what interactions they make.
4. Any messages between you and me are visible to only you and me (as it should always be).
5. I don't track if you see a post or message or not, if you're online or not, and how often you log in or not(**).
(*) This current iteration is hosted by a commercial cloud provider and utilizes some third-party services. While claiming full data ownership is not accurate at all, I still get a ton more visibility and control over my data than I would on any other social network.
(**) See how privacy works for more detail.
it's more personal
1. There's no view count, no like button, and no comment section. If I post something you like, we can use the chat section and have a more personalized and meaningful exchange about it.
2. (new) The notification approach is meant to be mindful and balanced(*). The idea is to connect when we cross each other's minds instead of forcing ourselves in each other's heads.
(*) How email notifications work:
1. Chat - Every 24 hours after your last visit
2. Posts - Every 2 weeks after your last visit
3. No notifications if there are no updates
4. Notifications auto-pause after 6 weeks of no activity
5. You can unsubscribe at any time
1. Chat - Every 24 hours after your last visit
2. Posts - Every 2 weeks after your last visit
3. No notifications if there are no updates
4. Notifications auto-pause after 6 weeks of no activity
5. You can unsubscribe at any time
it's simple
You don't need to sign up for anything, install any apps, or even remember any passwords. Just visit this website in your browser, check your inbox for the login link (when required to), and that's it.
but it's not perfect
1. There's only one primary user (me) who can post and have multiple contacts.
2. (new) There's currently no notifications *at all*. A balanced, mindful solution would be nice.
3. It's too basic, there are bugs, etc.
This is only the first iteration of what will hopefully be many, so stay tuned.
(anticipated) FAQ's
Q. This is not exactly a social network, is it?
A. Well, it is a tool for me to socially interact with my network of people by posting, sharing, and messaging. As it is right now, it is admittedly a limited and one-sided kind of social network.
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Q. Do you have to start using yet another tool just for me?
A. Not really. Getting in touch with me here is not that many more clicks than sending me an email today. Plus, how many people do you know have their own social network? Exactly!
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Q. If I own my posts and messages because I manage the server, who owns your messages?
A. Great question. The honest, but inconvenient, answer to this is that I do. Not in a malicious way, but anyone managing a server "owns" its data, for better or worse. The good thing is that the primary data you generate here is messages that you want me to see anyway.
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Q. The million dollar question — Will this ever be available for wider use, i.e. more than just one person?
A. That's certainly worth exploring. You'll be the first to know if it ever gets there.