nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpq4vstchuywpv9mtafvsfnzxc0dj09dcxrzyvqgpntg6jgn3zvxyjqz3usku I'll accept that narrative as true for now, but I fail to see why it would be. As in: ...
@bemmesr in the mass market, the product that minimizes the user's cognitive effort almost always wins, even at the cost of being less powerful.
Users reward what solves a problem immediately, clearly, and without friction, not what offers maximum possibilities.
A simple product requires fewer decisions, is easier to understand, and provides an immediate sense of control. All of this increases perceived value and reduces choice anxiety.
This limitation has helped Mastodon achieve a clear positioning ("it's Twitter, but federated"), albeit a bit misleading (it lacks the features that make Twitter exceptional). Lemmy and Pixelfed had the same luck ("it's Reddit/Instagram, but federated").
More comprehensive software has a much more vague positioning ("Friendica: like Facebook, but even more so," "Misskey: like a social network, but with puppy ears"), which, however, is almost always a mistake in marketing.
The market rewards simplicity, clarity, and reduced cognitive effort, while complexity, even when it offers more possibilities, disorients the user and reduces adoption.
Mastodon, besides working well, being continuously updated, and having incredible app support, isn't successful just for this reason, but simply because it's easier to understand, easier to promote, and easier to use. In short, it has a clear positioning.
Users reward what solves a problem immediately, clearly, and without friction, not what offers maximum possibilities.
A simple product requires fewer decisions, is easier to understand, and provides an immediate sense of control. All of this increases perceived value and reduces choice anxiety.
This limitation has helped Mastodon achieve a clear positioning ("it's Twitter, but federated"), albeit a bit misleading (it lacks the features that make Twitter exceptional). Lemmy and Pixelfed had the same luck ("it's Reddit/Instagram, but federated").
More comprehensive software has a much more vague positioning ("Friendica: like Facebook, but even more so," "Misskey: like a social network, but with puppy ears"), which, however, is almost always a mistake in marketing.
The market rewards simplicity, clarity, and reduced cognitive effort, while complexity, even when it offers more possibilities, disorients the user and reduces adoption.
Mastodon, besides working well, being continuously updated, and having incredible app support, isn't successful just for this reason, but simply because it's easier to understand, easier to promote, and easier to use. In short, it has a clear positioning.
1