Independent
Edgeless communities leverage lightweight nostr relay servers that anyone can run and a selection of interoperable apps to create custom groups that aren't owned or controlled by any social media conglomerate.
Edgeless is not another social platform. It is a new method of building and participating in online social communities owned and controlled by the people who care about them the most.
Edgeless communities enable any group, from friends with niche interests to professional organizations, to create a personalized social platform with customized social feeds, group chats, collaborative work spaces, forums, or any mix of these formats. These groups can be arranged to maintain varying degrees of openness. They can be fully open to the public, strictly closed, or anywhere in between.
What’s more, the individuals do not need separate accounts to access each of these places. One profile, with many perspectives, can move between multiple apps and communities to build their own personalized experiences.
Gone is the need to limit our personal interactions to appease the whims of corporate giants. Gone is the need to stifle our creativity in exchange for algorithmic acceptance. Going edgeless means WE define our spaces to be how WE want them.
With edgeless communities, the possibilities are endless.
At a time when corporate and governmental overreach is at an all time high, many people are left feeling trapped and under-served in the giant social platforms that have come to dictate our lives. They control how, or if, we are allowed to conduct business, talk to our friends, and even whether we are allowed to “exist” online.
All the while, the social relationships that first brought us to these platforms have been pushed into a corner, while we are fed a stream of low quality entertainment and advertising. Our sense of community is fading and, as humans, that is something we truly need in order to thrive. Edgeless communities bring humanity back to the center of our online experiences.
With AI increasingly saturating our already overstimulating digital lives, the need for human-centered spaces is increasing rapidly. Rather than waiting for some new corporate giant to grant us the right to associate in a space where they decide if we are “real”, edgeless communities distribute the action of bringing people together to anyone who wants to foster our need for connection, socially or professionally.
Unlike existing alternatives, you don’t need to be a super savvy tech wizard to start an independent online space for your group or organization. All you need are dedication and a clear path toward your goal.
Edgeless communities leverage lightweight nostr relay servers that anyone can run and a selection of interoperable apps to create custom groups that aren't owned or controlled by any social media conglomerate.
You and your group members can create and share blog posts, books, photos and videos, chat over text notes or voice messages, and so much more. An entire ecosystem of interoperable apps open a wide (and often new) variety of content types and ways of interacting that are both fun and fascinating. Productivity tools make co-working engaging and productive again.
Edgeless communities get rid of ALL the noise, distraction, clickbait, and constant advertising that plague traditional social media, allowing everyone to put their attention where it matters: their relationships. In edgeless communities, any algorithmic views are a simple, transparent choice. The default views are the return of the beloved timeline, so community members can see what is happening with their peers WHEN it is actually happening.
You are! Edgeless technologies strip away the complexity of traditional server management. There are multiple options for operating and hosting, including full service hosting providers, ready-to-launch virtual private server (VPS) hosting, and fully self hosting on your own hardware. No matter what your needs, there is an option for you.
Renting VPS space for your group is cheap, easy, and reliable. For minimal cost and with little to no tech experience, you can have your community up and running in just a few minutes.
If you're too busy or too uncomfortable to take the independent leap, full service hosting is available through multiple providers. These options will come with a higher cost for their convenience.
All the pieces to building an edgeless community are free and open source. All you need to do is install and get started.
Of course! Many edgeless communities are alive and thriving! The following are communities that have given permission to share their spaces. Each one also has its own forums and chat groups, with variable edges, all hosted on their own relay servers and available through many apps.
Noasis
"A place for friends and misfits, with a shared interest in forgotten knowledge."
The Syndicate
"The home of the outernational music syndicate."
Bassboard
"...intended for all things music."
QCRS
"Home of the Queen City Resiliency Salon, Staunton's HOUR Economy, and friends of these projects."
Nostr-Proto
"The Nostr Protocol Forum."
Edgeless.social is an educational initiative that's here to help you get your edgeless community off the ground. We offer free, remote demos of live communities, a comprehensive list of the available apps and relay servers, and guidance on choosing what pieces can bring your idea to life. All demonstrations and basic setup instructions are free of charge. We will help you understand the basics, explain how going edgeless can benefit your group, and provide tips to start and keep your community running smooth. Additional personalized tutorial sessions are available at an hourly rate, always discussed before any commitment. (Limited free tutorial sessions are available, as time allows, though these hours fill up fast!)
Edgeless.social works directly with a coalition of open source software developers who are committed to putting our online social spaces back in our control. If you notice something is missing, need specialized software for your community, or have an idea regarding edgeless communities, contact us and maybe we can help you create solutions through further development.
Remote group demonstrations, lasting approximately 1 hour, take place on a variable schedule. Individual demos can also be scheduled as time allows. Please contact us at the email below for current schedule information or to make arrangements.
Edgeless.social strives to keep a comprehensive list of available software implementations that support edgeless communities. Bring your ideas and we'll help you find the software that is right for your needs.
Edgeless.social can help you understand the ins and outs of edgeless communities with weekly open discussions around relays, apps, identities, or any other questions you may have about the wider network. These sessions are held remotely and free to attend for anyone, every Tuesday at 1pm UTC. If you are needing extra guidance, want to learn more the ecosystem, or want to meet some new friends and mentors, then this is the place for you. Send us an email, or a direct message over nostr, and we will provide further meeting details.
Email: Send inquiry emails and scheduling requests using the form below.
On Nostr:
General Info and Tutorials on Youtube: Edgelessdotsocial