schucan / townsquare

The social network that really is like a town square

TownSquare Social Network

Welcome to the repository for the TownSquare Social Network, where we aim to revolutionize online communities by bringing the authenticity and ethos of a traditional town square into the digital age.

Project Vision

Our project is inspired by the concept of transforming social media into a platform that mirrors the genuine interactions, transparency, and community-driven nature of a physical public square. In this digital town square, we envision:

• Identity Verification: Ensuring all members interact under their true identities to foster accountability and trust.
• Ephemeral Content: Emphasizing the transient nature of conversations, where content exists only in the moment, echoing the spontaneity of real-life interactions.
• User-Guided Amplification: Implementing a human-centric approach to content visibility, where the prominence of posts is determined by the community itself, free from algorithmic biases.
• Privacy-Protected Connections: Allowing social connections to exist without public display, keeping personal networks private yet functional.
• Community-Driven Funding: Exploring innovative, advertisement-free business models that prioritize users' well-being and privacy over profit.

Contributing

We're at the pioneering phase of this ambitious project and invite developers, designers, thinkers, and dreamers to contribute their expertise and passion. Whether it's through code, design, ideas, or any form of creative input, your contribution can help shape the foundation of a truly community-oriented social network.

To get involved:

1. Fork the repository: Create your own copy of the project to work on.
2. Explore Issues: Check out the current issues for areas where you can help.
3. Submit Pull Requests: Propose changes or enhancements by submitting pull requests.
4. Engage in Discussions: Share your ideas or provide feedback to others in the project discussion board.

Code of Conduct

To maintain a respectful and productive environment, we adhere to a strict code of conduct. All participants are expected to engage respectfully and constructively, fostering an inclusive community that welcomes diverse perspectives.

License

This project is licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

This project is inspired by the insights shared in the blog article "The Social Media Mirage: Debunking the Public Square Analogy". We encourage you to read the article to understand the profound principles guiding our vision.

Read the original blog article here.

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We're excited to embark on this journey together, redefining what social media can and should be. Join us in building the digital town square of tomorrow.

For more information and updates, stay tuned to this repository.