BBC starts experimenting with the Fediverse, running its own Mastodon instance

Now this is the kind of growth factor the Fediverse needs, not Threads.

I know I’m not the only one who has been saying that this type of move makes perfect sense for governments and news organizations, but I’m going to go ahead and take credit for this.

You’re welcome, guys!

This makes so much sense.

BBC wouldn't make their news site under Google Blogger... so why depend on other corporations for your microblogging?

Spin up your own server, have your own verification, then use it on your site and share outs.

I'm a fan of the BBC, they make a lot of terrific programmes and the breadth of the audience their radio stations cater to is pretty phenomenal.

They also have a history of experimenting with technology so it's not a total surprise they've taken this step. Since most people on Mastodon are either sharing British news sources from the BBC or The Guardian anyway it will be interesting to see how they fare...

I may be misremembering but seem to recall them being early to Tw*tter too. Good sign

Cool.

...and already blocked by at least one instance, mastodon.art.

https://mastodon.art/@Curator/110809888584495290

This could really get the ball rolling

The Dutch Government also launched an instance not that long ago. It's a pity it took so long, but Musk's antics are finally forcing people to move.

This is great! The Dutch government made their own official instance (social.overheid.nl) too!

Permanently Deleted

It's a smart thing for news sources and ngos to do - run an instance and use it to issue posts and provide a platform for journalists. Twitter and other platforms can still receive posts but the "source of truth" is the Mastodon server

Didn’t know they have their own TLD

That is fucking awesome.

I love the BBC, I hate seeing what it's been forced to turn into by threats from a succession of Conservative governments. I still pay my TV license despite pirating all my TV and movie content for years.

How can one add social.bbc to my Lemmy subscribed list?

I love this. No more “blue checkmarks” or paid verification processes. Just check the domain of the post(s) to confirm they are legit.

Is it better for companies in the Fediverse to create their own instances, like is that how we’re likely to see the proliferation of corporations here? We’ll see a Pepsi instance, a FoxNews instance, a McDonald’s instance? I imagine that gives them the most control over what happens in their neck of the woods vs just having a single corporate account on like lemmy.world or beehaw or whatever (though I don’t entirely understand what having an instance entails).

Mastodon is perfect for any form of media, or education establishment and so on. People who want to read their content will subscribe and they don’t have to allow general public signups, only those working for that establishment.

This is good to see like to see more companies using the fediverse

There's really good BBC bot operating Mastodon too. I've followed it since I joined in October last year. It's even programmed to use CW's and add image descriptions.

there may be reason for this, an unknown variable, an x if you will

Hope this catches on. Love it.

Idk what to feel about this tbh !

As much as I distrust these big corps, we need them to join the fediverse if we want this place to grow proper. I do worry over the possibility of them trying to monetize the platforms though.

I hope this means I'll get to find out about dramas and panel games more easily because I never know what is on until it's almost too late and I have like 2 days left to hear it.

they should just be out here with links to their own website. once there, look at their ads. if any of these mega corps try to show ads on fedi, they'd be defedied(defederated) quick. it's got them hesitant about getting shut out

@automodbeta@lemmy.world

Well, I think it's positive although it's eerie to have government run instances.