Just weeks after Automattic – the company behind WordPress.com – announced updates to the ActivityPub 1.0.0 plugin for WordPress sites, it has now added support for its own hosted sites.
WordPress.com customers can now use the ActivityPub plugin to integrate their blogs with the fediverse, including platforms like Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica and more.
Although not as popular as conventional social networks, Fediverse has gained popularity in recent months amid the controversy surrounding X, which has led to many dissatisfied users.
The fediverse consists of multiple independent websites or servers that together form an interoperable social network, but because they can operate individually, fediverse users have more control over their data and can even create their own servers.
The ActivityPub plugin works by connecting your WordPress.com blog (or other compatible WordPress hosting platform) to the fediverse, allowing fedi users to follow you on their favorite platform.
It works in two ways, translating diverse responses from your audience into WordPress comments, so you don’t have to use two separate systems separately.
The plugin is available to all WordPress.com users, including free account holders, and a new toggle has been added to the account settings.
WordPress.com thinks giving users the tools to get started with the fediverse will revolutionize blogging. The platform also offers numerous benefits, such as expanding the reach of your blog, connecting with diverse audiences, and creating engaging dialogues.
In reality, federated platforms are not nearly as popular as conventional social media and many are put off by a lack of technical knowledge, but as consumers continue to look for alternatives to mundane solutions, adoption may increase and WordPress.com’s early start could be enough to to give it the upper hand.