No progress, really.

Almost nine years ago I came across something that I considered, and still consider, a proof that “many of the proposed alternatives [in 2013!] to current social networks are trying to solve the wrong problem."

Back then, the problem was that (again, in 2013):

“a growing number of everyday local residents are actually offended or at least perturbed if you ask them to use something other than Facebook to engage in their local community online.

Nine years ago, what really worried me about that situation was, for all the reasons I explained at the time, the fact that:

"[Many people over 50 years old] went from offline to Facebook addiction in one shot. Even many active citizenship or civil rights advocates are already gone the same route. In other words, if we wait just a little more for “real” solutions like the ones mentioned above, nobody will care to use them"

That, nine years ago. Today, I read that the main reason that still compels many, many people to stay on Facebook is the same it was in 2013, just with many less people worrying about it:

“The negative headlines may continue to plague Facebook, but the relationships formed within [Facebook] Groups will most likely keep people logged in."

Nine years ago, the way out of these chains was obvious to me (see the original post for many more details): normal people will not use anything that “doesn’t really integrate all services (email, blogging, actual social networking) in ONE “wall” and, above all, would [break direct interaction with all their Facebook-only friends”.