ActivityPub: Cross-network social profiles

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• February 28, 2025

Insight summary

Social platforms are embracing ActivityPub, a shared protocol that makes profiles portable and fosters open communities. Users can move their content freely while businesses can adjust by designing flexible moderation systems and exploring new revenue paths. Governments, seeking to ensure fair competition and protect citizens, can explore policy updates that nurture safe cross-network participation.

ActivityPub context

ActivityPub is an open social networking protocol standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 2018. This protocol allows different social media services to communicate with each other, giving users the freedom to move their followers and content across platforms. It has been gaining widespread adoption, with Tumblr, Flipboard, Medium, Mozilla, and Meta pledging support. Many developers think ActivityPub offers more user control, similar to how email or web chat once operated.

When someone makes a post on an ActivityPub-powered platform, that content is sent to the user’s outbox and then distributed to followers, while private or targeted messages flow into the user’s inbox for secure retrieval. This straightforward design is a feature of the federated social web, often referred to as the Fediverse, which is an interconnected network of independent social platforms that can communicate with each other using open standards. In 2023, WordPress released an official plugin that allows millions of websites to incorporate ActivityPub, bridging multiple communities at once. 

Meanwhile, Meta introduced Threads in the same year, describing plans to integrate with ActivityPub so that anyone can share content seamlessly with users on other platforms. ActivityPub’s supporters see a future where people can choose the app or platform they prefer without losing track of friends or followers. Developers suggest it may be further decentralized by integrating technologies such as Ethereum Swarm Feeds and IPNS, making the protocol even more open. 

Disruptive impact

Individuals may appreciate simpler methods for moving digital identities across different platforms. This trend can allow them to connect with diverse communities without repeating profile setups and friend lists. Additionally, users may gain more control over privacy, since they can pick or exit services that fit their comfort level. However, some people may feel overwhelmed if they have to manage multiple servers and moderation policies on their own.

Companies may explore specialized services that integrate multiple social channels through a single protocol. This direction can inspire revenue models that focus on premium membership or tailored moderation, since organizations can offer extra perks on top of an open network. However, businesses may face challenges in building brand loyalty when users can depart anytime, taking their followers with them. Major corporations may develop or acquire servers in different regions to abide by local regulations or cultural preferences.

Governments may refine policies to support fair competition when open networks let startups compete with large digital firms. Public agencies may also create unified frameworks for cross-border moderation, since potentially harmful content can travel more easily. Additionally, officials may invest in educational campaigns to teach citizens how to protect personal data within open networks. Regulatory bodies may also adjust standards to preserve user autonomy and ensure safe participation across these platforms.

Implications of ActivityPub

Wider implications of ActivityPub may include: 

• Local language communities forming around shared interests, leading to more targeted cultural expression that resonates with specific groups.
• Increased cross-platform cooperation for real-time charitable drives, leading to faster relief coordination for communities in crisis.
• User-friendly tools aiding older demographics in digital exploration, leading to greater online engagement for seniors who previously felt excluded.
• Voluntary moderation committees shaping unique interaction guidelines, leading to new approaches in resolving disputes within smaller networks.
• Collaborative sponsorships spanning multiple servers, leading to broader revenue opportunities for solo creators who unify their followings.
• Cross-platform data exchange expanding the options for localized hosting, leading to potential cost savings and lower power consumption for smaller operators.
• Local governments providing real-time civic updates across all networks, leading to swift public engagement and timely feedback on policy issues.
• Political campaigns tapping local voices in server-based groups, leading to more regionally tailored messages that resonate with voters.
• Tech-related jobs emerging for cross-platform optimization, leading to a specialized workforce focused on federated protocols.
• Online collectives organizing supply-sharing services, leading to new community models for distributing goods or knowledge resources.

Questions to consider

• How might open social platforms change the way you maintain friendships or work relationships online?
• How can a more open, shared network boost creative collaborations across different communities?