After shutting down #HolosDiscover, we're rethinking the approach with #HolosIndex: users explicitly opt in by adding #HolosIndex to their bio with interest tags, then submit their profile.
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@julian
We appreciate that, but the feedback raised valid points. The opt-in approach is the right move. It may grow slower, but every user in the index will be there by conscious choice. That's a stronger foundation to build on.@apps
Well, I read the whole thread. It was a matter of 2-3 people which were more a PITA than giving useful advice.
In my opinion if HolosIndex will be more strict than it already was, since it was very strict in what to index, it will be not useful, since almost no one is going to add #HolosIndex tag and it is not even an ActivityPub standard. -
After shutting down #HolosDiscover, we're rethinking the approach with #HolosIndex: users explicitly opt in by adding #HolosIndex to their bio with interest tags, then submit their profile. No assumptions, no default settings.
This will power interest-based discovery across the #Fediverse, helping people find each other through shared interests. Still all through #ActivityPub of course, with real-time deletions and updates.@apps
That sounds a lot like https://tootfinder.ch does it. It would be great if different services could share the same opt-in mechanism! Explicitly allowing one service while denying others might be important for some users and should be supported, but an additional common flag to just allow all services would be convenient for lazy guys like me. -
After shutting down #HolosDiscover, we're rethinking the approach with #HolosIndex: users explicitly opt in by adding #HolosIndex to their bio with interest tags, then submit their profile. No assumptions, no default settings.
This will power interest-based discovery across the #Fediverse, helping people find each other through shared interests. Still all through #ActivityPub of course, with real-time deletions and updates.@apps Rather than a hashtag, is it possible to do this based on users following a particular account? Like the Bluesky bridge.
I don't know any of the technical particulars, so unsure if this is a feasible alternative. Feels like it would have less friction, though.
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@apps
Well, I read the whole thread. It was a matter of 2-3 people which were more a PITA than giving useful advice.
In my opinion if HolosIndex will be more strict than it already was, since it was very strict in what to index, it will be not useful, since almost no one is going to add #HolosIndex tag and it is not even an ActivityPub standard.@nicolaottomano
We actually received links to conversations where the project was being discussed quite aggressively beyond what was visible here. We still believe our approach was ethical, but it didn't account for users not understanding their own default settings. Of course, the same settings used by real scrapers like Google, but that's another debate
@julian -
@apps Rather than a hashtag, is it possible to do this based on users following a particular account? Like the Bluesky bridge.
I don't know any of the technical particulars, so unsure if this is a feasible alternative. Feels like it would have less friction, though.
@tehstu
Our previous mechanism was actually more thorough than that. Before following or indexing anyone, we checked multiple signals: indexable enabled, account not locked, no #nobot in bio. But since indexable is enabled by default when you create an account, we were closer to opt-out than opt-in. That's why we're rethinking the approach with explicit opt-in. -
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@nicolaottomano
We actually received links to conversations where the project was being discussed quite aggressively beyond what was visible here. We still believe our approach was ethical, but it didn't account for users not understanding their own default settings. Of course, the same settings used by real scrapers like Google, but that's another debate
@julian@apps@toot.fedilab.app that's exactly it. You're not responsible for others not understanding that when they post publicly, their post is public.
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@tehstu
Our previous mechanism was actually more thorough than that. Before following or indexing anyone, we checked multiple signals: indexable enabled, account not locked, no #nobot in bio. But since indexable is enabled by default when you create an account, we were closer to opt-out than opt-in. That's why we're rethinking the approach with explicit opt-in.@apps If I understood it all correctly though, you would follow accounts based on these criteria.
I was thinking of the reverse, where people elect to follow the discover account. Perhaps some settings-based checks could also be applied, as you did previously. Looking to make sure the account is indexed and so forth before following back (which I guess would be the thumbs up that the discovery is now active).
Apologies, I'm problem solving things I imagine greater minds have already considered while putting off what I should be working on (which is making me tear my hair out). Either way, I look forward to whatever ends up working. The Holos stuff is such a novel concept!
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After shutting down #HolosDiscover, we're rethinking the approach with #HolosIndex: users explicitly opt in by adding #HolosIndex to their bio with interest tags, then submit their profile. No assumptions, no default settings.
This will power interest-based discovery across the #Fediverse, helping people find each other through shared interests. Still all through #ActivityPub of course, with real-time deletions and updates.@apps As experienced client devs, I assume you have the infrastructure for OAuth already in place? I'd rather go to your website and authenticate my Mastodon account there than have a hashtag in my bio... the Tootfinder hashtag kinda annoys me every time I see it.
That aside, I believe Mastodon is going to introduce some kind of profile signal for willingness to appear in starter packs, might be worth additionally keeping an eye on whatever happens there. https://github.com/mastodon/featured_collections
