2026 can no longer be about highlighting platform power – it must be about breaking it. Algorithmically driven feeds and extreme platform concentration continue to shape and distort our public sphere. As decentralized social media gains real momentum, it is no longer a fringe idea but a credible alternative. Our new report explains why action is needed now.

The report explains why the growing dependence of the digital public sphere on a small number of non-European companies is deeply problematic. It also presents a viable alternative. Open and decentralized social media platforms such as Mastodon or Bluesky can reduce these dependencies and help strengthen a resilient digital information ecosystem. They enable local control over data, promote diversity and transparency, and have the potential to challenge monopolistic structures in the platform economy.

The report provides an overview of how decentralized social media platforms function technically, how they differ structurally from platforms such as TikTok, X or Instagram, and how they can be systematically strengthened. To this end, it formulates concrete recommendations at three levels: product development and improvement, the political and regulatory framework required now, and measures to ensure societal embedding in order to enhance the public visibility of decentralized networks specifically. In doing so, the report goes beyond an analysis of the status quo and offers strategic guidance for policymakers, civil society and the media.

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