Social Web
An introduction to the social web, the fediverse, and people-first online spaces — and why open, participatory platforms still matter
Why this page exists
I write a lot about email, privacy, and digital communication — and increasingly, those conversations overlap with how we connect and interact online more broadly.
This page exists to explain what the social web is, why it matters, and how it fits into a more open, people-first internet. It also acts as a reference point for ideas I touch on elsewhere across the site, particularly around communication, decentralisation, and long-term digital sustainability.
If you’re here mainly for email or privacy topics, you might also want to explore my writing on Email and Privacy
An introduction to the social web
The social web refers to the interactive, human-centred part of the internet — the places where people don’t just read information, but connect, share ideas, and take part in conversations.
Rather than passive browsing, the social web is about participation: people commenting, replying, reposting, collaborating, and forming communities around shared interests.
It’s the layer of the web where communication becomes social, not just transactional.
What is the social web?
The social web includes:
- Decentralised social networks and federated platforms (often referred to as the fediverse)
- Community-driven discussion spaces and forums
- Comment systems, groups, and collaborative platforms
- Open standards that allow people and communities to interact across services
At its core, the social web is built around people and participation, not algorithms or attention extraction. It’s where users shape conversations, communities develop their own norms, and interaction matters as much as content.
A brief look at the Social Web Foundation
The Social Web Foundation (SWF) is a nonprofit organisation focused on supporting a social web that is:
- More open
- More decentralised
- More sustainable
Their work centres on promoting standards, tools, and approaches that prioritise user control, shared governance, and long-term resilience over short-term engagement metrics.
You can follow their work here:
@swf@socialwebfoundation.org
My interest in the social web aligns closely with these principles — especially where they overlap with privacy-first communication and healthier online spaces.
Why the social web matters
Understanding the social web helps you:
- See how online conversations shape culture and public discourse
- Understand how communities influence ideas, norms, and decisions
- Recognise the difference between read-only platforms and participatory systems
Whether you’re sharing ideas, connecting with others, or building something long-term, the social web is the environment where those interactions take place.
Further reading
If you want to go deeper, Ghost has a clear and accessible overview of social web concepts: