Have you come across terms like "Social Web", "Mycelial Web", "Fediverse", "Threadiverse", "Mycelium network", "Nostr", "ATproto", "ActivityPub", and "DDFON"? They can sound quite techie and confusing, why don't we demystify them!
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Last update: 2026-02-12 08:15 UTC+8
(in alphabetical order)
<dl role="list" id="mycelial-web-definition-list"> <dt role="listitem" id="dfn-activitypub"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>ActivityPub (AP)</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-activitypub-01"> <div role="definition">
The protocol behind the <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> network, recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) since 2018–01–13. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-atmosphere"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>ATmosphere</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-atmosphere-01"> <div role="definition">
A friendly name for the entire network built on top of <a href="#dfn-atproto" title="ATproto">ATproto</a>. [^atproto-atmosphere] [^atproto-atmosphere-paul-frazee] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-atproto"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>ATproto</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-atproto-01"> <div role="definition">
The protocol that powers the <a href="#dfn-atmosphere" title="ATmosphere">ATmosphere</a> network, often incorrectly referred to as <a href="#dfn-bluesky" title="Bluesky">Bluesky</a>. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-blockchain"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Blockchain</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-blockchain-01"> <div role="definition">
A cryptographic ledger, popularized by cryptocurrencies, and also used in <a href="#dfn-ddfon" title="DDFON">DDFON</a> <a href="#dfn-sns" title="SNS">SNS</a> like Audius (music), Hive (content), and Verasity (video). </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-bluesky"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Bluesky</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-bluesky-01"> <div role="definition">
The first public server powered by the <a href="#dfn-atproto" title="ATproto">ATproto</a> protocol, commonly but inaccurately used to refer to the entire ATmosphere network. Bluesky is only one of many ATproto servers. (see also: <a href="#dfn-atmosphere" title="ATmosphere">ATmosphere</a>) </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-ddfon"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>DDFON</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-ddfon-01"> <div role="definition">
Stands for “Decentralised, Distributed, Federated, Open Network” ﹘ a term I coined in 2011, [^ddfon-yohan-yukiya-01] [^ddfon-yohan-yukiya-02] also known as "<a href="#dfn-mycelial-web" title="mycelial web">mycelial web</a>". </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-diaspora"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>diaspora</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-diaspora-01"> <div role="definition">
The name of the protocol that powers <a href="#dfn-the-federation" title="The Federation">The Federation</a> network. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-did"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>DID</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-did-01"> <div role="definition">
The "Decentralised IDentity" is a permanent, digital "serial number" that is unique per user, it acts as a universal identifier that remains the same even if a user moves to a different service. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-fediverse"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Fediverse</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-fediverse-01"> <div role="definition">
The friendly name for the network using the <a href="#dfn-activitypub" title="ActivityPub">ActivityPub</a> protocol and its predecessors (<a href="#dfn-ostatus" title="OStatus">OStatus</a> (2010–2020), <a href="#dfn-openmicroblogging" title="OpenMicroBlogging">OpenMicroBlogging</a> (2008–2010)). Coined by Mark Eckenwiler in 2012-05-25 and by Marjolein Katsma in 2013-01-24. [^coined-fediverse-mark-eckenwiler] [^coined-fediverse-marjolein-katsma] [^coined-fediverse-twitter] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-handle"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Handle</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-handle-01"> <div role="definition">
A friendly username that serves as an easy-to-remember nickname online instead of a complex ID. In other networks, like the <a href="#dfn-atmosphere" title="ATmosphere">ATmosphere</a>, a handle can be updated anytime as an account is associated with its permanent <a href="#dfn-did" title="DID">DID</a>, not the handle. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-identiverse"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Identiverse</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-identiverse-01"> <div role="definition">
The original name for the <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> network, coined by Luke Slater in 2010-03-14. [^coined-identiverse-luke-slater] [^coined-identiverse-identica] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-jabber"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Jabber</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-jabber-01"> <div role="definition">
A federated instant messaging network, the first <a href="#dfn-ddfon" title="DDFON">DDFON</a>. The name was dropped in favour of the term <a href="#dfn-xmpp" title="XMPP">XMPP</a>. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-mastodon"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Mastodon®</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-mastodon-01"> <div role="definition">
A <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> software using the <a href="#dfn-activitypub" title="ActivityPub">ActivityPub</a> protocol, incorrectly used to refer to the entire Fediverse network. It is a registered trademark that should only be used within the context of the Mastodon® software. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-matrix"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Matrix</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-matrix-01"> <div role="definition">
An <abbr title="Internet Relay Chat">IRC</abbr>-like federated messaging platform similar to <a href="#dfn-xmpp" title="XMPP">XMPP</a>, serving as both the protocol and the network name. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-mycelium-network"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Mycelium</b> [network]</p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-mycelium-network-01"> <div role="definition">
A network of fungal threads in nature, applied to tech networks like the Fediverse, <a href="#dfn-atmosphere" title="ATmosphere">ATmosphere</a>, and <a href="#dfn-nostr" title="Nostr">Nostr</a> networks. Originally suggested to replace the term <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> but redefined in 2022. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-mycelial-web"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Mycelial Web</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-mycelial-web-01"> <div role="definition">
Multiple networks of fungal threads (mycelium) is called mycelia or mycelial. In tech, mycelial is the umbrella term for mycelium networks like <a href="#dfn-xmpp" title="XMPP">XMPP</a>, <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a>, <a href="#dfn-matrix" title="Matrix">Matrix</a>, <a href="#dfn-nostr" title="Nostr">Nostr</a>, and <a href="#dfn-atmosphere" title="ATmosphere">ATmosphere</a>; a friendly name for <a href="#dfn-ddfon" title="DDFON">DDFON</a>. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-nostr"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Nostr</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-nostr-01"> <div role="definition">
It is a protocol that powers the <a href="#dfn-nostrich" title="NOSTRich">NOSTRich</a> network. </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-nostr-02"> <div role="definition">
The name stands for <q>Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays</q>. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-nostrich"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>NOSTRich</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-nostrich-01"> <div role="definition">
The friendly name of the network powered by the <a href="#dfn-nostr" title="Nostr">Nostr</a> protocol. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-openmicroblogging"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>OpenMicroBlogging</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-openmicrobloging-01"> <div role="definition">
The first protocol of the <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> from 2008–2010. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-ostatus"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>OStatus</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-ostatus-01"> <div role="definition">
The <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> protocol, active from 2010–2020. [^pleroma-federation-ostatus-dropped] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-pds"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>PDS</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-pds-01"> <div role="definition">
"Personal Digital Store", a system for capturing a lifetime of personal documents and media. First described by Bell and Gemmell for the MyLifeBits project at Microsoft Research. [^coined-pds-01] </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-pds-02"> <div role="definition">
"Personal Data Store", a citizen-empowering personal data infrastructure—defined by Mydex in their September 2010 white paper [^coined-pds-02], and established as a global standard by the World Economic Forum [^coined-pds-03]. Project Danube was a reference implementation of a PDS while also federated to the <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> network (2010–2013). [^coined-pds-04] </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-pds-03"> <div role="definition">
The <a href="#dfn-atproto" title="ATproto">ATproto</a> "Personal Data Server", is a modern implementation of a PDS specific for the protocol. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-secure-scuttlebutt"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Secure Scuttlebutt (SSB)</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-secure-scuttlebutt-01"> <div role="definition">
A cryptographic network where content is shared only with followers. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-semantic-web"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Semantic Web</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-semantic-web01"> <div role="definition">
One of the original meanings of <a href="#dfn-web3-point-O" title="Web3.0">Web3.0</a>, where the web becomes <q class="quotework" translate="no"><bdi lang="en">capable of analyzing all the data on the Web—the content, links, and transactions between people and computers</bdi></q> through W3C standards. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-sns"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>SNS (Social Networking Service)</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-sns-01"> <div role="definition">
The original term for <a href="#dfn-social-media" title="social media">social media</a>, still commonly used in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-social-media"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Social Media</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-social-media-01"> <div role="definition">
The term for <a href="#dfn-sns" title="SNS">SNS</a> in English-speaking countries. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-social-web"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Social Web</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-social-web-01"> <div role="definition">
Also known as <a href="#dfn-web3" title="Web3">Web3</a> or <a href="#dfn-web3-point-O" title="Web3.0">Web3.0</a>, it promotes an open, interoperable web instead of closed silos. It is about building platforms that interoperate through federation and bridges, while ensuring resiliency through distribution and decentralization. [^web3-jesse-stay] [^web3-loic-le-meur-01] [^web3-loic-le-meur-02] [^web3-loic-le-meur-03] It is the same as "Open Social Web" and "Open Social", and is a very broad term that goes beyond <a href="#dfn-ddfon" title="DDFON">DDFON</a>. [^socialweb-wikipedeia] [^socialweb-w3c-01] [^socialweb-w3c-02] [^socialweb-w3c-03] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-the-federation"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>The Federation</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-the-federation-01"> <div role="definition">
The name of the network running on the <a href="#dfn-diaspora" title="diaspora">diaspora</a> protocol. </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-threadiverse"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Threadiverse</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-threadiverse-01"> <div role="definition">
Refers to threaded <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> platforms like Lemmy, Kbin, and Mbin. </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-threadiverse-02"> <div role="definition">
In Korea, it refers specifically to Meta's Threads platform with <a href="#dfn-fediverse" title="Fediverse">Fediverse</a> integration. [^threadiverse-02-korea] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-web3-point-O"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Web3.0</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-web3-point-O-01"> <div role="definition">
Refers to <a href="#dfn-semantic-web" title="Semantic Web">Semantic Web</a> as coined by Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee in 2006. [^web3-point-O] </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-web3-point-0-02"> <div role="definition">
Also refers to the <a href="#dfn-social-web" title="social web">social web</a> Le Web3 conference in France in 2007 and earlier. [^web3-loic-le-meur-01] [^web3-loic-le-meur-02] [^web3-loic-le-meur-03] </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-web3-point-0-03"> <div role="definition">
It was also later used to refer to <a href="#dfn-blockchain" title="blockchain">blockchain</a> technology [^web3-tim-berners-lee-w3c] as defined by Gavin Wood in 2014. [^web3-blockchain-wikipedia] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-web3"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>Web3</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-web3-01"> <div role="definition">
Initially coined for the <a href="#dfn-social-web" title="social web">social web</a> conference in 2007 by Loic Le Meur. [^web3-loic-le-meur-01][^web3-loic-le-meur-02][^web3-loic-le-meur-03] </div> </dd> <dd id="dfn-web3-01"> <div role="definition">
It was also later used for <a href="#dfn-blockchain" title="blockchain">blockchain</a> technology [^web3-tim-berners-lee-w3c] as defined by Gavin Wood in 2014. [^web3-blockchain-wikipedia] </div> </dd>
<dt role="listitem" id="dfn-xmpp"> <dfn role="term"><p><b>XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol)</b></p></dfn> </dt> <dd id="dfn-xmpp-01"> <div role="definition">
The first federated instant messaging platform, originally named <a href="#dfn-jabber" title="Jabber">Jabber</a>. </div> </dd> </dl>
*
Cover image: "People Network" by liftarn; Openclipart Public Domain.
Mycelial Web chat image: To the extent possible under law, <a href="https://im.youronly.one/" rel="dct:publisher noopener">I'M YourOnly.One</a> has <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/" rel="license noopener external">waived all copyright and related or neighbouring rights</a> to <cite><a href="https://im.youronly.one/techmagus/images/m/mycelial-web-01.png" rel="dct:title noopener">Mycelial Web in action</a></cite>. This work is published from <span property="vcard:Country" datatype="dct:ISO3166" content="PH" about="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" rel="noopener external">Philippines</a></span>.
«SNS, Social Media Terminologies Explained» was first published on techmagus on 2024-06-10 at 00:25 UTC+8; and first written on 2024-06-05 at 08:28 UTC+8.
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**
[^atproto-atmosphere]: Kuba Suder: There’s also the unofficial name “Atmosphere” or “ATmosphere” that some people use for the whole network built on top of ATProto (published: 2024-06-10) (archived 2024-06-10: 1 2) [^atproto-atmosphere-paul-frazee]: Paul “Frazee”: from:pfrazee.com atmosphere (archived 2024-06-10: 1 2)
[^ddfon-yohan-yukiya-01]: Yahuhanan Yukiya Sese Cuneta: Maybe this map can be useful to the #DDFON community? Initial target market perhaps? (published: 2011–10–15) (archived 2024–06–09: 1 2) [^ddfon-yohan-yukiya-02]: Yahuhanan Yukiya Sese Cuneta: And good night Decentralized, Distributed, Federated, Open, Network! (published: 2011–11–10) (archived 2024–06–09: 1 2)
[^coined-fediverse-mark-eckenwiler]: Mark Eckenwiler: Fully accessible from my part of the fediverse (published: 2012–05–25) (archived: 1 2) [^coined-fediverse-marjolein-katsma]: Marjolein Katsma: good morning / #tzag #identiverse / fediverse :) (published: 2013–01–24) (archived: 1) [^coined-fediverse-twitter]: Twitter search: (fediverse) until:2013–01–31 since:2006–01–01 (archived: 1 2) [^coined-identiverse-luke-slater]: Luke Slater: Time for bed. Goodnight Identiverse. Thank you for existing! (published: 2010–03–14) (archived: 1) [^coined-identiverse-identica]: identi.ca: Notices tagged with identiverse (archived: 1)
[^coined-pds-01]: Communications of the ACM: A personal digital store [^coined-pds-02]: Mydex: The case for personal information empowerment - the rise of the personal data store - A Mydex white paper September 2010 [^coined-pds-03]: World Economic Forum: Personal Data: The Emergence of a New Asset Class [^coined-pds-04]: W3C: Project Danube (via wakest)
[^pleroma-federation-ostatus-dropped]: Pleroma: Releasing Pleroma 2.0.0 (published: 2020-03-08) (archived: 1 2)
[^socialweb-wikipedeia]: Wikipedia: OpenSocial [^socialweb-w3c-01]: W3C: OpenSocial Foundation Moves Standards Work to W3C Social Web Activity [^socialweb-w3c-02]: W3C: W3C Launches Push for Social Web Application Interoperability [^socialweb-w3c-03]: W3C: Social Web Working Group
[^threadiverse-02-korea]: 앱타쿠: The word 'Threadiverse' I think korean users in fediverse use this word very popular. What you talked to me like Kbin, lemmy, mbin etc are very unpopular in korea( cause we already have too many major bulletin board websites) and that's why 'Threads + Fediverse = Threadiverse' is popular in korea (published: 2024–06–05) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2)
[^web3-jesse-stay]: Jesse Stay: Just finished blogging about "the Social Web" (aka Web 3.0): http://tinyurl.com/yv7qs5 (published: 2007–05–31) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2) [^web3-loic-le-meur-01]: Loic Le Meur: merci pour le post sur les tarifs du Web3... faudra que je fasse un podcast la dessus un de ces 4 (published: 2007–09–20) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2) [^web3-loic-le-meur-02]: Loic Le Meur: going to bed with my 400 000 euros budget proposal for Le Web3 wifi proposal from one of a top wifi netwoks... can't believe it (published: 2007–10–26) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2) [^web3-loic-le-meur-03]: Loic Le Meur: made Le Web3 wiki up at http://leweb3events.pbwiki.com/ (published: 2007–12–10) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2) [^web3-tim-berners-lee-w3c]: W3C: Design Issues (published: 2017-10-31) (archived 2024-09-27: 1) [^web3-point-O]: New York Times: A 'more revolutionary' Web (published: 2006–05–23) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2) [^web3-blockchain-wikipedia]: Wikipedia: Web3 (published: 2024–05–25) (archived 2024–06–07: 1 2)