Jep, I think the lack of specialized communities is definetly a problem. However I think this is, in the last resort, mostly up to us as users. If we don’t create content for topics we find interesting… who else could?
But I also get that possible reddit refugees who are used to lurk on content instead of creating it (I don’t exclude myself here) will find the plattform(s) to empty to be satisfied.
I don’t quite get it:
Lemmy has started in 2019 with 0 users and 0 instances. In 2023 there were still less than 100 instances… now the platform has oviously jumped to a few thousand instances and about 100 k users. To me this is the opposite of a ghostland. If we consider that bigTech will mostly screw over their customers bowing to Trump I don’t really get all the negativity around here.
I’ve joined two days ago and you know what? I’m actually willing to contribute by posting instead of lurking at reddit because if I create content it’s not for somme multi million dollar corp to fill their pockets with revenue but for this community to thrive…
I my eyes this isn’t the right time for doomerism… on the contrary.
I guess the problem are the users (you and me) or better or use of plattforms itself.
On reddit I tended to be lurker. And if most of us are the few which actually POST content are the those with strong (mostly political) views who are willing to commit to their cause by flooding the zone with political fights.
Coclusion: If we want a cozy lemmy we need to join/start non-political, subject specific communities and actually CONTRIBUTE something instead of just consuming. Otherwise this cluster of plattforms will end up like all the other due to the same reasons.
What you’re describing isn’t Lemmy specific I think, same happens of you browse the news feed of reddit (and most probably also other social media).
What helps me is subscribing to non-political topics and scrolling through your own feed of non-political stuff instead of the main site… gardening, hobbies, memes… that’s what these sites once ought to be made for. Not 24/7 political bombardment.
Sidenote: Digital detox also helps for sure '^^
Actually this makes things even more interesting imho as it allows or even demands a sophisticated museum and exhibition concept.