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Een vrouw met halflang bruin haar kijkt op haar telefoon naar een grafiek over datagebruik
Waag Futurelab BY-NC-ND

Waag Futurelab and social media

Waag Futurelab is actively committed to developing alternatives to the dominant commercial platforms, contributing to a more ethical digital ecosystem. Although we have an active presence on big tech social media, this is a pragmatic choice for us, necessary to reach a wider audience and realise our mission. We choose to continue using these platforms for now, while embracing alternatives like Mastodon and encouraging people to switch.

Website as a basis

In spreading our message and outcomes of our research, we adhere to the POSSE strategy (abbreviation: Publish Own Site Syndicate Elsewhere). This means that we share content on our own websites first, and then use social media to link to it. This way, we maintain control over the traceability and ownership of our content, and reduce dependence on these social media platforms.

Read more about the POSSE strategy

Alternatives

Waag is actively working to develop and raise awareness of alternatives to big tech platforms so that we can all eventually move to a better digital ecosystem. For instance, Waag is already present on the federated social medium Mastodon. Here, we are not just a user but host a so-called ‘instance’ on which anyone can participate. Using Mastodon, we are more than just a user of ‘the digital village square’, but bear responsibility for the security of that square. We have established clear and transparent access and moderation rules for this purpose. We call on as many people as possible on regular social media to switch over.

Go to waag.social

Big Tech platforms

Waag Futurelab additionally has an online presence on corporate social media platforms (including Instagram, LinkedIn) whose values we do not subscribe to. As far as we are concerned, using thesesocial media platforms is a temporary necessity. This is a pragmatic choice. From our goals, mission and vision, we have the ambition to involve as many people as possible in our work, research and programmes. Everyone should be able to help design the future. The reach on social media is currently such that we (unfortunately) still need these channels to reach as many people as possible with our message.