Distributed Social Networking Protocol

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The main entity this text is about is the Distributed Social Networking Protocol (DSNP). DSNP is a set of rules that allows for the creation and management of decentralized social networks. These protocols enable different social networking platforms like Diaspora, Mastodon, and Scuttlebutt to communicate with each other, providing users with a more integrated social networking experience. The DSNP also uses secure methods to protect users’ information. It interacts with open formats such as JSON, ActivityStreams, ActivityPub, Webmention, and IndieWeb to structure and exchange data. Application layer protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, XMPP, SMTP, and IMAP are employed to transmit this data over the internet[1]. Therefore, DSNP plays a crucial role in shaping the architecture of distributed social networks.

Terms definitions
1. internet. The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use standardized communication protocols, primarily the TCP/IP, to link devices worldwide. Originating from the term 'internetted' used in 1849, the term 'Internet' was later used by the US War Department in 1945. Its development began with computer scientists creating time-sharing systems in the 1960s and further progressed with the establishment of ARPANET in 1969. The Internet is self-governed, without a central authority, and its principal name spaces are administered by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It has significantly transformed traditional communication media and has grown exponentially over the years, with internet users increasing 20% to 50% annually. In 2019, over half of the world population used the Internet. The Internet protocol suite, which includes TCP/IP and four conceptual layers, guides internet packets to their destinations. Essential services like email and Internet telephony operate on the Internet. The World Wide Web, a global collection of interconnected documents, is a key component of the Internet.

The Distributed Social Networking Protocol (DSNP) allows everyone to collaborate to create one social network that is decentralized, like email.

It is an open technology that supports private communications in a manner that users of modern social networks have come to expect. The current version of the protocol is 0.6, though the project has been discontinued. The leading author is Adrian Thurston.

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