Decentralized Online Social Networks: Technological and Organizational Choices and Their Public Value Tradeoffs

Abstract

Decentralized online social networks appear to be a refuge for those who wish to leave or quit centralized platforms or mainstream social media. These two types of platforms are often categorically pitted against each other. We argue that the choice for decentralization is neither categorical nor binary but should be the outcome of nuanced considerations based on public values. The term “decentralization” encompasses both technical aspects and organizational aspects of a platform. To cement public values in platform design, a combination of both centralized and decentralized technological and organizational elements may be preferable over two uniform opposite categories. We present this decentralization framework as a heuristic for deliberation about the inevitable trade-offs between sometimes conflicting values.