Ghost, a popular newsletter platform and Substack rival, has recently taken a significant step by federating its first newsletter. This move marks the company’s entry into the fediverse, an open social network connecting various servers and apps such as Mastodon, Pixelfed, and PeerTube.
In a recent announcement, Ghost revealed that it has successfully federated its own newsletter, becoming the first federated Ghost instance online. Users can now follow the newsletter through their preferred federated app at @index@activitypub.ghost.org. Although the company anticipates some bugs and issues during the integration process with ActivityPub, the protocol powering Mastodon and other federated apps.
By embracing ActivityPub integration, Ghost aims to provide readers with more subscription options beyond email or the web. With RSS and ActivityPub-powered apps like Mastodon now supported, readers can choose how they follow the newsletter. Additionally, Ghost plans to enable sites with paid subscribers to manage access via ActivityPub in the near future.
The move towards federation comes at a time when many content creators are seeking alternatives to closed platforms like Substack. By offering a federated subscription model, Ghost not only expands its user base but also ensures greater accessibility for readers across various platforms. Moreover, with an open-source ActivityPub GitHub repository, Ghost invites developers to contribute and collaborate on its platform’s federation efforts.
Several high-profile users have already migrated to Ghost, citing concerns over moderation policies on other platforms. With its commitment to open source and federated services, Ghost is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of writers and publishers in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
