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"The world after Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A new generation of the Internet?"

on:

Join our symposium in Cologne on September 22 to discuss the role of decentralised social media platforms in our society!

Hand holding a smartphone checking a Mastodon account with a flowery background

More and more people are turning away from social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube to alternatives like Mastodon and PeerTube. Why are they different? How are they changing the web? And how can you get involved in the Fediverse? Join our symposium and get an insight into these decentralised social networks through our talks and workshops on 22.09.2023!

The Free Software Foundation Europe, the Centre for Civic Education of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Adult Education Centre Cologne are organising this free event. It is aimed at multipliers in political education, teachers, representatives of public institutions and educational establishments, as well as all interested parties.

Prior knowledge and experience of decentralised social networks is not necessary, as the programme will include an overview of various decentralised services, often referred to as "Fediverse". Other topics include the potential and problems of decentralised services and their role for a democratic society. Three workshops will deal with the practical use of Fediverse services, the operation of own instances and the transfer of knowledge about decentralised social networks in an educational context.

The event will be held in German. Participation is free of charge, but online registration is required. We look forward to your participation!

Event dates and registration

Date: 22.09.2023
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
Location: FORUM Volkshochschule im Museum am Neumarkt, Cäcilienstraße 29-33, 50667 Cologne, Germany
Note: The event is fully booked.

Programme

10:00 - 12:00: Definition and fundamentals (plenary)
Keynote: The infrastructure of the open society in the digital age - Katharina Nocun (publicist)
Input: What is the Fediverse? Overview and delimitation - Tobias Diekershoff (friendica developer)
Input: Potentials and problems of centralised and decentralised services - Stephanie Henkel (moderator at dresden.network)
Discussion and Q&A session

12:00: Break for exchange and lunch snack

13:00 - 16:00: Practice and parallel workshops
Practical input: From the everyday life of a Fediverse administrator - Sascha Foerster (Bonn.digital)
Workshop 1: Decentralised networks as a subject of political and school education - Björn Friedrich (Studio im Netz e.V.)
Workshop 2: Using decentralised services for individuals and institutions - Katharina Nocun, Tobias Diekershoff
Workshop 3: Running your own Fediverse instance - padeluun (Digitalcourage)

Closing panel: The future of the Fediverse - Björn Friedrich, Katharina Nocun, padeluun, Sascha Foerster, Stephanie Henkel, Tobias Diekershoff

Moderation: Friederike von Franqué (Wikimedia Deuschland)