“So where are we all supposed to go now? / It’s the end of a social era on the web. That’s probably a good thing. But I already miss the places that felt like everyone was there.”
by David Pierce
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/3/23782607/social-web-public-apps-end-reddit-twitter-mastodon
TL:DR - He pines for a public town square. He wants it as “everyone is here” and “you’re still in control.”
My opinion? That’s probably not CoSo. Everyone can’t be here - ask all the 
However, you are still in control.
Thoughts?
@Anemone 💯. I am also guilty as charged for lamenting the “who’s not here.” I’d like to think they are fellow like-minded individuals, but I’m likely wrong.
@mikeharmanos The “everyone” you wish was here had no indication you even existed, so the communication channels only go one way. If you care about someone ignoring you and pining for their two cents, I guess so, but I don’t miss that “everyone” one bit.
@Cashcrop Oh, it’s not me who wishes for “everyone.” That’s the author. We are in complete agreement.
@mikeharmanos I know, I just remember that change leaving the other space and thinking that’s not what I’m looking for. Great minds Mike!
@mikeharmanos My consistent opinion is that the world is far better off with a wide range of decentralized options catering to specific communities, with their own flavor.
Humanity is not served, on the balance, by having a small set of massive social networks that actively give people Giant Megaphones. There's some positives but far too many drawbacks to that model.
@lenaoflune Agreed with your first point. Somewhat similar to the abundance of newspapers 100 years ago, targeting specific communities by geography. That’s all been replaced by specific communities by interest, which have self-organized on the web.
@mikeharmanos Yep.
Discovery remains a tricky part, but of course, that's why we have search engines and public posts/landing pages/etc.
I don't feel any longing for "the place where everyone is" because there's a not inconsequential group of people I don't want to be want to be around, and I expect the feeling from some others is mutual. I want to be able to find communities and join them.
@mikeharmanos I agree, it's not going to be CoSo. We don't appeal to the people in that town square who don't care who reads over their shoulders or who tracks their movements while hanging out there.
This is the most secure site of any that have cropped up in the past years. Still people overlook that fact and lament the format or "who's not here."