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Decentralized network.

All bigtech platforms are centralized (monolithic, walled-gardens) - they don't play well with others.
There is no connection between them and they require exclusive (dead-end) accounts.
Members of a decentralized network are inter-connected, they use common protocols to allow communications and sharing across platforms.

Firstly, ArrCay is part of a unique network with identity management, sharing features, and models of interaction that don't exist elsewhere. Communications may be public or private, where privacy is enforced by a range of encryption techniques from the server level to the user level, including end-to-end encrypted messages. Cloud storage, file sharing, communications, content creation and management belong to you and can be shared (or not shared) as you wish.

ArrCay is also part of the larger network commonly called the Fediverse. There is no central authority or corporate overlords, individuals are in charge.
More on the fediverse can be found in the What is ArrCay? help doc.

Your identity is your own. One identity across the network.

Your Channel ID and all related data are yours, forever!
This is not just a some terms/restrictions apply, results not typical, batteries not included, read the fine print, consult your doctor, side effects include... type of statement.
It's the last social media "account" you'll ever need! Channels (unique portable IDs created with an ArrCay account) are not restricted to only 'living' or existing on this server. Even if ArrCay.com disappeared, your Channel (cloned to any compatible server) can go on like nothing happened!

Not another dead-end account

The Nomad protocol provides a unique cryptographically signed identity that allows mirroring/cloning to multiple servers with near real-time sync. If you decide to move your "home" login account to another server (on any compatible platform), clone your nomadic ID to the new account and you won't lose anything. Say you setup an account on one instance and decide you would rather be on another instance (differing admin rules, the server is going down next week, whatever) or just want a ready to go backup of your Channel/connections/content; so you register on another instance and clone your identity. Voila! All your content and connections are now on the new server and automatically synced. ...Also you can always download your identity and all content at any time as a backup or to upload to another server (even your own) later.

This amazing capability to clone your Channel to multiple sites protects you against system failures and censorship.

OpenWebAuth - Once logged in with your nomadic ID, any visits to another compatible server are 'auto-magically' logged in and have access to content available to authenticated visitors of that server, and any specific user content/privileges you've been given permissions to access on that server.

This isn't limited to just the typical social media features. A Channel on the network could be a business with a shop website and cart/checkout, or a content creator with subscription-only content; using a nomadic ID there's no need for yet another exclusive login account just to access such things.

This is similar to services offered by large corporate providers with huge user databases, but your password isn't stored on a thousand different sites where it can be stolen.

The Nomad and OpenWebAuth features are currently only available on ArrCay and certain related platforms. These protocols are rumored to be adopted into ActivityPub at some point. ActivityPub is the primary protocol used across Fediverse platforms.

You control your data. ArrCay enforces the permissions you set.

You're not forced to use the old bigtech stalker/stalking (what they call followers/following) model. Of course, content creator and public figure types for which that model works are free to use it here; but they still have other options available. ArrCay provides fine-grained permission controls for any content you wish to publish, files uploaded to your cloud storage, events and more. Every Channel on ArrCay (and the many closely related servers/platforms) can completely control their privacy and sharing preferences. Every object, how it is shared and with whom is completely under your control.

You can even moderate replies/comments and contacts.

If you're not sure about a new contact, set them to moderated, and you'll have a chance to approve all of their comments to your posts before those comments are shared with your true friends and family. For many fediverse projects, the only way to control this kind of abusive behaviour is through blocking individuals or entire websites. This ability is also available here, you'll just find that you hardly ever need to use it.

Your data/content remains yours

And your Channel is cancel-proof

Most platforms utilize the "free"-for-all ad revenue model. IOW, they force-feed you targeted advertising based on your data and usage. They may also utilize various other methods of generating revenue from your personal data and/or posted content. For example, using your content for training generative AI.
Regardless of other terms in their TOS agreements, there remains the risk of being locked out of your account* and losing content/data therein. * - well, it is their account really - it only exists on their system. And for the average person at least, the data/content is only of any use on their system. Even if a backup/download has been done (which most people never do on platforms that provide such an option), there is no simple way of moving it to another platform. This risk is more commonly known as "violating community standards" which, as many can attest, are very subjective (even non-sensical) and arbitrarily enforced. The admin on any particular Fediverse server (most are owned/operated by individuals) may be more, or less, restrictive than others. Here the "community standards" are more typically enforced individually by those in the community - via the permissions, moderation, and blocking/filtering controls available to every Channel. In any case, since a Channel is based on a nomadic ID, it can be cloned and/or moved to another server, even your own.

No advertising

ArrCay relies on donations and premium subscribers. What better way to retain control of your data and content than by paying for the service you use to store and present it? Donations and subscriptions also help ensure that Channels are operated by real, genuine people.

Make a Donation Subscription Tiers

Because ArrCay does not use the bigtech model, spam/scam and fake accounts are practically non-existent. The registration of a new account at ArrCay.com requires Admin approval (i.e. human review/interaction) because bad actors are always using new ip/email addresses which inevitably slip by our filters and blacklists. These basic safeguards along with ArrCay's built-in features provide higher quality content and eliminate nearly all of the garbage found on bigtech platforms. We have no reason to artificially inflate userbase numbers by allowing spam/scam/fake accounts.

Want to read more? Check out Why the bigtech social media model is destined for the dumpster

Host your own

If the freedom, privacy and security features of an account on ArrCay.com are not enough; or if you have other reasons to want to administer your own social media platform...

Anyone with a fairly basic knowledge of running a website can have their own instance of ArrCay which can provide social media communications with millions of others. As such, the majority of Fediverse platform servers are run by individuals like myself with their own server(s) and some small (maybe large) organizations that provide services to their community of users.

It doesn't matter if you're the only user or you have thousands of users on your server - It's not alone. One reason for the name ArrCay is an abbreviation of archipelago - a group of islands, because every instance/server is part of the decentralized group. Additionally, Managed Hosting Services and any related technical support you might require is available. We can take care of all the backend server management and you have full admin control of your own social media platform.

Managed Hosting

Custom Addons

Wouldn't it be nice to allow buyers or content subcribers to place orders (and even make payment) without going to some other site just for that? This is one of several premium addon apps that are in development for ArrCay. Users are encouraged to make suggestions on (and of course donations towards) development of Addons and features.

Have coding skills?

Develop your own Custom Addon.

A Better Marketplace

We believe there's a better way to connect buyers and sellers, freelancers with clients, etc.

Compare ArrCay with Hubzilla, Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky

Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky may be popular options, but how do they compare?

This comparison section is derived from the Hubzilla comparison found here.

This table compares decentralized social media platforms. Some of the terminology is different between platforms, but the core concepts are the same. We have included the terminology each platform uses (where there is enough space to do so).

For example, on Mastodon and Bluesky, you create an "account" which serves as your online identity and social media presence, but on ArrCay and Hubzilla it's called a "channel," and on Threads it's called a "profile." In other words, a "channel" is the equivalent of a Mastodon account or Bluesky account or Threads profile. We will use the term "channel" throughout to make the table simpler. See also Identity.

For reference, this website is running ArrCay.