Mastodon (fediverse)
Federated microblogging with no single owner; rough edges, but user surplus and exit to other instances is real.
User surplus Stage 1
The product is genuinely good for users; growth and goodwill are the priority.
The fediverse model spreads power across instances and protocols. The product is uneven, yet users retain meaningful choice: different communities, moderation styles, and the ability to move. That keeps it closer to stage 1—value for users is still the main story, even as some large instances professionalize.
More in Social
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Discord
2 Lock-inStrong real-time product for communities, but your social graph and server history are deeply embedded—switching means rebuilding social capital elsewhere.
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LinkedIn
3 ExtractionThe default résumé graph for many industries, increasingly monetized via feed ads, recruiter tools, and upsells—users are the inventory.
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Reddit
3 ExtractionMature platform shifting value toward advertisers, mods as unpaid labor, and product changes that prioritize engagement over quality.
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X (Twitter)
3 ExtractionAPI paywalls, algorithmic feeds, verification products, and ad load shift surplus toward the operator and advertisers—classic extraction on a still-central public square.
