netwerksites

Netwerksites are networked websites designed to operate as part of a distributed, interoperable web architecture. In this model, independent sites run on their own servers and share a common protocol layer to exchange identity data, posts, and interactions, creating a larger, federated online ecosystem. The aim is to preserve local control while enabling cross-site discovery and interaction across the network rather than centralizing service on a single platform.

A typical netwerksite uses open, interoperable protocols and standardized data formats to enable federation. Activity streams, identity management, and content publishing are aligned across sites, often through protocols such as ActivityPub. Each site maintains its own data and moderation policies, but users can interact with accounts and content across the federation. Data portability is a core feature, allowing users to migrate profiles and content to another instance with relative ease.

Historically, the concept grew from the federated social web movement in the 2010s, with real-world implementations including Mastodon, Diaspora, PeerTube, and Pixelfed illustrating how federated networks operate. Netwerksites emphasize interoperability, user privacy controls, and resilience, at the cost of increased governance complexity and a more challenging user experience compared with centralized platforms. Communities must coordinate policy on abuse, discovery, and content moderation across instances, while technical challenges include search, indexing, and cross-instance reputation.

In summary, netwerksites describe a class of interconnected sites that share data and interactions via open protocols, enabling decentralized social, media, and information ecosystems while prioritizing control, portability, and resilience over centralization.