A cursory first read shows glossing over two big issues (probably more, but these two stood out): . 1--Algorithmic manipulation ... despite claims of good intentions, any time we defer timeline content selection to software, we're really saying that we trust the software's creators and operators to decide what we see or don't see. On many issues, there is no unified and settled truth, so the deciders would have to enforce their own biases. . 2--The "Uncle Fred" problem. Every one of us has contacts that hold some wacky beliefs. Just as we remember being uncomforable at family events after an uncle had a few drinks and his tongue loosened up, choosing to display or block content based on what our contacts did subjects us to the Uncle Fred contacts again.
3--One of the things that is worst about Facebook and Twitter is that their algorithms decide what you see, not just your contacts / subscriptions list. Accepting a contact request or following someone is your affirmative choice to have that person's content in your feed, but they actively interfere with that. Sometimes for "engagement" raising (putting posts with extreme political positions in your stream so that you are compelled to react), sometimes for direct financial gain ("sponsored tweets" injected in your stream because an organization paid to have them), and now they also do this to prevent users from believing the wrong things. . In my view, this is dangerous and wrong. I know Eugen means well, but it is not your Tootmaster's (Mastodon admin's) place to decide what you are allowed to believe.