cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/24735701
See also:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_(protocol)
It is similar to the old gopher: text files, links, and images form a hypertext optimized for reading. Text is formatted like Markdown - but even simpler.
Clients display text, like an eBook, or images / media.
Servers can run on a PC or Raspberry Pi which needs half a Watt of power. No FAANG companies needed. No expert knowledge needed - not more difficult than running a file sharing client.
I think it is the right thing for defense of democracy and sharing your voice in the digital realm.
Edit: If you see comments here which kinda miss the point, appeal to emotions, have faulty logic, or depart from entirely incorrect assumptions: Please keep in mind that big US tech companies can’t say “that’s bad, how will we shovel money with this?”. Please use your critical thinking skills - they are much needed here!
Gemini is more like personal web sites and blogs - with very little setup effort, almost no maintenance, and light on both extra features and resource use.
It is calmer and a different style of writing and reading. More deliberate if you want so. Pages read like an eBook.
Also, open source Internet technologies are not exclusive. It is not either/either. There is no need to view everything as competition. Especially since Gemini is tiny compared with popular social media sites like Reddit. Gemini might have ten thousand active users - but high-quality content. It attracts a certain frugal breed of people.
Also, one can learn by looking at and trying other things, and see things one is used to with new eyes.
Here one idea what can possibly be done better (adressing an addictive element of Mastodon, the “endless feed”, which it has inherited from Twitter I guess):
https://portal.mozz.us/gemini/tilde.town/~dzwdz/b/feeds.gmi