Social media in their current form are great for Big Tech companies making money selling our attention and training their machine learning models on our data using unsustainable, energy-heavy computations. Their business model turns out to be fertile ground for disinformation, conspiracies, affective polarization, and further marginalization of certain voices. Deep down, we all want to leave but we stay because we fear losing the means of communication with others. But where individual resistance seems futile, collective action could be the solution.
The good news is, there is a plenty of talent in the EU already, making alternatives not just easy to imagine, but ready to be observed. We strive to gather public support for the creation of a decentralized social network for everyone, where users have full control over their private data and the algorithm and where bots and fake accounts spreading disinformation are prevented from accessing the platform. As students from across the EU joined by other citizens, we ask the European Commission to support the creation of a European public-service social network financed and controlled by citizens.
We believe that indirect financing by citizens established through budget guarantees is the best way to shield the platform from political pressures. For the European Commission to be obliged to respond to our initiative, we need to collect 1 million signatures, meeting thresholds in member countries. We see this challenge as a chance to bring alternative social media to the attention of citizens as well as policy makers and to show that the current course social media are taking is not by any means inevitable.
Curious about our efforts? Sign our petition here (EU citizens only), read more on our website, or find us on Mastodon at @eusocialnetwork or in a very old-fashioned way on Instagram at  @eusocialnetwork. Get in touch with us at europeanpublicsocialnetwork@gmail.com. Not an EU citizen but still interested? We are happy to hear from anyone who shares our passion for a better social media landscape and we believe sharing our experience can benefit all of us.
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Petition for the creation of the European Public Social Network
Social networks in their current form pose a threat. The spread of disinformation, fraud, private data sharing and the rise of fake accounts all call for a suitable alternative.
Our goal is to create a safe social network for everyone, where users have full control over their private data, bots and fake accounts spreading disinformation are prevented from accessing the platform, and algorithms work for users.
This initiative asks the European Commission to support the creation of a European public-service social network financed and controlled by citizens. Support it and help improve the digital space.