Governments making this stuff instead of the people? Really bad idea.
this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2026
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Oh because people did such a good job the first time?
Anything people make, no mater how good, can and has been purchased to be turned to shit and controlled by those that purchase it. In that world, which is the one we live in now, a government made and publicly used social media service is just about the only way to create a resilient and uncorruptable form of social media. Especially compared to current alternatives that are already getting corrupted.
I'm not saying what they'll make is perfect. But it's far better than any other option we currently have. Knee jerk reacting to assuming it's bad is very much the same crux billionaires used in the US to weaken the government that would otherwise regulate them.
A government is literally the best suited to creating this tech due to its public utility. Same with electricity, water, Emergency services, roads and more. Everyone uses them, so our taxes should go to making those things better.
This is a step in the right direction.
it's far better than any other option we currently have.
We have the Fediverse. Brother, you're literally on it right now.
Well said. I am certainly here for a reason :)
This isn't actually a government doing it. It's just some VC backed company that went to Davos to announce it.
Fair point. But I think you're burying the promising parts of this article:
W’s data will be hosted decentrally in Europe by European companies, and the platform will adhere to strict EU data protection laws.
“We believe there is an urgent need for a new social media platform built, governed and hosted in Europe. With human verification, free speech and data privacy at its core,” she wrote.
In her LinkedIn post announcing the launch of W, Zeiter emphasized that systemic disinformation is eroding public trust and weakening democratic decision-making.
I've never heard an Elon say that.
And her background is solid compared to tech bros:
She earned her PhD in law at the University of Hamburg and later studied at Stanford University.
W will be legally the subsidiary of “We Don’t Have Time,” a media platform for climate action, but the team is scattered across Europe, with offices in Berlin and Paris planned, Bilanz reports.
And the whole platform is legally under a company dedicated towards climate action.
Lot of wins in this article make me think it's far from the typical VC billionaire babysitting service.
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I am staying on mastodon for the micro blogging, not interested in centralized shit. Also, recommander systems are a plague.
I know Europe might seem like a country of you’re illiterate, but um it isn’t. W is a Swedish company with a dumb idea at the core of its app
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So a Mastodon ripoff, but its instances hosted by a single entity (effectively centralized): ensuring all instances residing within the European jurisdiction (allowing for full control over it). I don't see how they genuinely believe, to have humans do the photo validation, when competing at the scale of X; especially when you run all the instances. Perhaps they could recruit volunteers to socialize the losses, as the platform privatizes the profits. Nothing but a privacy-centric approach however: said the privacy expert...
Zeiter emphasized that systemic disinformation is eroding public trust and weakening democratic decision-making ... W will be legally the subsidiary of “We Don’t Have Time,” a media platform for climate action ... A group of 54 members of the European Parliament [primarily Greens/EFA, Renew, The Left] called for European alternatives
If that doesn't sound like a recipe, for swinging the pendulum to the other extreme (once more), I don't know what does... Because can you imagine, a modern social media platform, not being a political echo chamber: not promoting extremism by use of filter bubbles, and instead allowing for deescalation through counter argumentation. One would almost start to think, for it all to be intentional: as a deeply divided population will never stand united, against their common oppressor.
I think they're automating the photo validation. The CEO mentioned something about giving back by releasing their facial recognition solution or something in the interview at Davos.
Anna Zeiter, CEO of W, has told Bilanz.ch that W stands for “We.” Meanwhile, the first of the Vs that make up W stands for “Values,” and the second for “Verified.”
“The fact that W comes before X in the alphabet is certainly also a welcome coincidence,” Zeiter said.
Was curious if the”W” had a deeper meaning to it. Turns out it’s actually two V’s that form a “W”
you mean it doesn't stand for Wumbo?
Stupid name, vv, or vave would've been better. Besides, it's not like they'll register v.v as a domain, or even www.w.vv
Digital Voyeurist Values Verified
I genuinely thought this was an Onion post.
Should've named it Y or Z. You know, like +1....
The initiative to create the social media platform W is supported by an advisory board and former ministers and business representatives, primarily from Sweden.
That links to an article about ADHD medication. lol
Well, at least their second source reference makes sense.
Nah , pub is better ,talking to real persons
only Ws in the chat, guys 😎
Checkmate, Elon Musk.
Should've called it Z. Is just as good as X. In fact, is two better.
We make platform now. Users come next week*.
Y tho
*Comrade has entered the chat*
But why "W"?
... U, V, W comes before X, Y, Z
If coming first is an advantage or not... well
(☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞
You didn’t read the text?
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Should just have said it stands for Wordfeud, which would be commical.
We are?
Hold my hand and let's say yes together.
Wafrn