A free Internet, not digital monopolies – why we need open networks
Imagine...
You have a mobile contract with Vodafone – but you can only call other Vodafone customers. Or an email account with Yahoo – but you can only exchange emails with other Yahoo users. Sounds absurd? Luckily, open standards prevent this from happening.
But when it comes to social networks, we’ve long accepted the opposite: If I’m on Instagram or Facebook, anyone who wants to connect with me must also sign up there. These platforms operate like closed islands – controlled by just a few corporations.
The Problem with Closed Platforms
Imagine if roads were owned by car manufacturers: If you drive a VW, you can only use VW roads. If you have a Ford, you're restricted to the Ford network. And at every traffic light, you’re shown personalized ads, while an algorithm rewards reckless driving.
As absurd as it sounds – this is exactly how major social networks work today.
Even more concerning: These platforms are controlled by a handful of billionaires. Their algorithms shape our attention, influence our emotions, and determine which content we see. With the growing power of artificial intelligence, it’s becoming increasingly clear how much this threatens free, verifiable, and universally accessible knowledge.
Our digital public sphere is at risk of falling into the hands of a few tech oligarchs. But without free access to information, there can be no open, democratic society. If corporate giants control digital communication, not only our privacy but also our freedom of expression and public discourse are at stake.
The Solution: Open, Decentralized Networks
That’s why I want to introduce you to Save Social. This initiative advocates for a free internet – with open standards and true interoperability. Social networks should work like email or phone calls: independent of specific providers.
Save Social supports decentralized networks like Mastodon and Friendica, which enable social connections and democratic exchange – without surveillance, without monopolies.
Unlike Facebook, Instagram, or X, these platforms aren’t owned by a single entity. They are part of the Fediverse, a network of independent servers that communicate with each other through an open protocol (ActivityPub). This means: No one can simply buy or control the entire network. This decentralized structure makes them resistant to monopolization and ensures a free digital public sphere in the long run.
Check it out and join the movement for a free and open internet!
