Why I’m Going Open Source with My Social Media and Browser

It’s no secret that I love control—over my life, my data, and my digital footprint. For years, I’ve watched as big tech platforms have made decisions that don’t always align with my values, especially around privacy, sustainability, and user choice. So, when I discovered open-source alternatives to the mainstream social media giants, I was intrigued. Here’s how I’m shifting my digital life to open source, and why you might want to consider it too. Follow along here.

Why Open Source Matters

Open source software matters because it is a powerful antidote to technofeudalism—the concentration of digital power and wealth in the hands of a few tech giants. By making code transparent and accessible, open source decentralises control, allowing communities, developers, and users to collectively own and shape the technologies that affect their lives. This not only undermines the extractive logic of surveillance capitalism but also fosters trust, security, and innovation, as anyone can inspect, improve, or adapt the software for the common good.

In a world where democracy is under pressure from oligarchic interests and centralised authority, open source empowers people to participate meaningfully in digital governance and public life. It supports grassroots democracy by enabling transparent, community-driven platforms—like those used for voting or civic engagement—where decisions are made with input from many, not dictated by a privileged few.

Open source is thus not just a technical choice, but a democratic one: it redistributes power, encourages collective action, and helps reclaim our digital future from techno-feudal overlords.

First Social Media: Bluesky and Mastodon

Bluesky and Mastodon are two of the most talked-about open-source social networks today. Both offer a refreshing escape from the walled gardens of Twitter/X and Facebook.

• Bluesky (bsky.social) is built on the AT Protocol, giving users more control over their feeds, data, and moderation. It’s decentralized, meaning no single company owns your content or dictates your experience. Bluesky feels a lot like Twitter, but with a more open, customizable approach^48.

• Mastodon (joinmastodon.org) is also decentralized and runs on the ActivityPub protocol. It’s more like Facebook in its community feel, with independent servers (instances) that you can join based on your interests. Each instance sets its own rules, creating a patchwork of communities that can interact with each other^59.

Firefox Browser and the Work Containers Plugin

To complement my open-source social media shift, I’ve also moved my browsing to Firefox (mozilla.org). Firefox is open source and privacy-focused, but what really sold me is the Containers plugin (addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/).

Containers let you keep your online lives separate—work, personal, social—all in the same browser window. It’s a game-changer for productivity and privacy, especially for someone juggling multiple projects and identities. I use it to keep Facebook, Youtube and Google all separate from the rest of my browsing.

Instagram Alternative: Flashes

For those missing Instagram, there’s Flashes (getflashes.app). Built on the Bluesky protocol, Flashes is a photo- and video-sharing app that offers a similar experience to Instagram but with more control over your feed and no forced algorithm. It’s open source, decentralized, and lets you showcase your work in a “Portfolio Mode”.

Comparison Table: Bluesky (Twitter/X) vs. Mastodon (Facebook) vs. Flashes (Instagram)

Links:

• Bluesky: bsky.social

• Mastodon: joinmastodon.org

• Firefox: mozilla.org

• Firefox Containers: addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account-containers/

• Flashes: getflashes.app