How can we connect, communicate, and coordinate joint efforts in a suitable way?
To be more precise: Which tools and platforms could we use?
In the past years, I tried and experimented with various programs and platforms.
Feeling the fields behind big players like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp and how people’s brains are wired to these, was an interesting observation.
Also, experiencing certain degrees of censorship and “algorithmic influence” made it clear for me not to rely on certain platforms.
Even my main communicator, Telegram, felt less and less appropriate for me over the past years.
Knowing now that they’ll implement the GROK AI and are already censoring and deleting certain people who act for the greater good, it’s clear why I’ve been feeling like leaving this platform.
I also tried newer and not well-known platforms, like certain blockchain projects or prototype messengers. Yet most of these were not suited for a hassle-free everyday experience.
So which solutions are there right now?
Speaking from the perspective of a Linux desktop PC user (I don’t have a smartphone or tablet)
The following solutions are self-hosted. Everyone can use this software to create their own server, which means: Censorship resistance, data ownership, more “privacy” and ultimately a stable and solid base.
When you’re on a platform like Facebook, they can decide any time to suspend your account, change their rules or send your private conversations to someone. With Telegram I know of some people whose channels got suddenly and permanently deleted.
With self-hosted platforms, things like this can’t happen that easily.
Matrix
Matrix is a is a protocol for communications, used by several clients.
The most popular client is called: Element.
Element is used by U.S. Space Force, NATO and other big military and nonmilitary organisations.
Its basic functionality is very similar to messengers like Telegram, Signal or WhatsApp.
Matrix is also a federated protocol, which means that you can not only communicate with people who registered on your server but also with anyone who is using any Matrix client on any server.
Mastodon
Mastodon is similar to X (Twitter) and part of a federated system called Fediverse.
Mattermost
Mattermost is a platform suited for more “tactical” in-team communications.
It’s also used by U.S. Space Force, NASA and other big organisations.
There’s a free version which could be self-hosted. An alternative could also be RocketChat.
HumHub
HumHub is similar to Facebook.
Hosting our own platform
All these platforms mentioned could be used freely to create our own communication spaces.
There would be just costs for running the server itself, where this software is installed on.
In the past I did set up my own Matrix, Mattermost and RocketChat servers for a small group of people, but didn’t host Mastodon or HumHub. I’m not a tech expert, yet setting up these servers wasn’t so complicated.
Another platform worth mentioning
SimpleX
A messenger similar to Telegram, Signal and WhatsApp, which has a very unique approach to privacy and hence censorship resistance.
This can be used right away. There’s no need to set up a server.
The only downside right now is that on the Linux desktop client, voice messages don’t work yet.
Why am I sharing this?
I feel not only the urge to connect and coordinate but also to establish our own “structures” and networks here on this earth.
Structures, networks and platforms which are based on and carried by free consciousness.
You can feel the difference between using mainstream platforms, where there’s a lot of control and censorship in the background, and a self-hosted platform using open-source software.
Which fields are connected to and behind certain communication and collaboration platforms and do these fields represent who we are?
How would communication and collaboration platforms feel and look like, which are in alignment with who we are?
Do you feel like taking action?
Managing my own projects and website, Earth-Portal and now this forum, it’s already more than enough for me to handle. Even though I’ve been feeling for years how crucial it could be to have a free and solid connection, communication and collaboration platform utilizing e. g. tools like these mentioned above, apparently it is not my place to do this.
When @Deborah asked me if we could create a forum, I felt it to be a step in the right direction.
Yet I feel there’s much more we can do in this regard.
How do you feel about these opportunities?
If you have the technical knowledge and feel to take action, please let us know. 
Lastly I feel to share this article as an inspiration of “healthy” social media:
Intimacy Gradients: The Key to Fixing Our Broken Social Media Landscape
In love and respect
Eric