Paul's article prompted a long one from me: What is the purpose of protocols? connectedplaces.online/the-purpose-of-protocols/
The Purpose of Protocols
connectedplaces.online
P(aul) Frazee
New blogpost about atproto It's not federation, it's not a p2p mesh. It's a secret third thing: practical. pfrazee.com/blog/practical-decentralizati…
Mar 18, 2026 at 4:50 PM
But First, Interoperability - augment
Back in November, I wrote an essay that explored the significance of services like Bridgy Fed, a protocol-level bridge that connects open social platforms. S…
Dangerous Protocols - Summer of Protocols
Protocols are frequently touted as the liberating alternative to walled technological gardens, but the historical purpose of protocols has always been to simplify decision-making and reduce human agency. How do we reconcile these two narratives? I explore the dangerous side of protocols, and how their ability to drive coordination means they also have
Protocol Reader - Summer of Protocols
In the Fall of 2022, the word protocol was suddenly everywhere. The proximal cause was obvious: fueled, in part, by the highly visible and fractious change of ownership at Twitter, large numbers of people began heading for the exits. Most of them, of course, were just looking for
Why a New Protocol? The History and Future of AT Protocol - AT Protocol
Bluesky CTO Paul Frazee and Head of Protocol Daniel Holmgren join for a wide-ranging conversation about what atproto is, why it exists, how it got built, and where it's going next. From a Twitter consultancy to an IETF working group, this is where to get started.
Protocol Reader - Summer of Protocols
The Protocol Reader The Protocol Reader is an 358-page book (currently only available as an epub) comprising 26 foundational essays by 31 authors from the Summer of Protocols program, carefully edited and sequenced to introduce you to the fascinating new discipline of Protocol Studies. It can serve as
Protocols, Not Platforms: A Technological Approach to Free Speech
So I finally finished reading this and while I agree with the recommendation, I’m a little wary of some of the context it’s rooted in ideologically and I’m wondering if others have thoughts on these things. Equality in the marketplace I think the main problem with the text is that it relies heavily on the idea of “marketplace of ideas,” leaning heavily on the idea that protocols are actually good for markets specifically because they make competition more perfect (because there’s better knowled...
Inventing New Nature
Defining the Protocol Institute's research mission
The Web Needs a Context Layer Built on a Shared Protocol
Making context a shared protocol, rather than a platform feature, would let readers see competing perspectives anywhere on the web, argue Mallory Knodel, Evan Friedman, and Brad Friedman.
Longform — Long-form writing on the AT Protocol
Discover and publish long-form writing on the open AT Protocol network.
Paul's article prompted a long one from me: What is the purpose of protocols? connectedplaces.online/the-purpose-of-protocols/
The Purpose of Protocols
connectedplaces.onlineP(aul) Frazee
New blogpost about atproto It's not federation, it's not a p2p mesh. It's a secret third thing: practical. pfrazee.com/blog/practical-decentralizati…
Why I created @skysquare.app—and why I believe the web needs it. "Decentralized protocols represent more than a technical innovation. They offer the possibility that public conversation might once again become part of the commons rather than the exclusive property of any single platform."
Why Skysquare Exists
skysquare.appAn interview with @masnick.com (of TechDirt), the author of the influential 2019 paper "Protocols, Not Platforms," reflecting on how his ideas apply to publishers in 2026. protocolsforpublishers.com/mike-masnick-interview/
Mike Masnick on protocols for publishers
protocolsforpublishers.comAnother reason why it’s so important that we have open protocols for social media.
Kai Kupferschmidt
One of the issues that has come up again and again in my reporting on misinformation and social media is the massive influence social media companies have on research in the field. Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
AT Protocol links
Somewhere to store interesting AT Protocol sites and resources.
Ditch Platforms
Guides, stories, and reasons to leave platforms in favor of protocols
pub search
The AT Protocol Harkens An Old Web Ethos
at-store | Apps on the Atmosphere
Open Evnt Documentation
Lexicon Garden - ATProtocol Lexicon Browser
Standard.site Validator
The Music Industry is Broken
Enshittification, Despotification, and the Open Internet
How to ACTUALLY Quit Spotify.
Kill Yr Substack | Jason Cosper
EFF is Leaving X
An Explanation (Which I Would Be Very Grateful If You Took The Time To Read)
