Full disclosure, this idea is for a Lemmy client I’ve been toying around with making. I’ve gotten a bit in my head and would to run an idea by everyone.

The challenge:

Onboard people onto Lemmy in a way that makes sense to people that understands Fediverse and explains it well enough that typical social media users will understand it too

My onboarding flow idea.

As you read this, think of CARROT weather, an app with a funny personality.

You are an alien creature exploring the Lemmy Verse, a federation of social planets. You must chose a home planet, then you are free to explore its local communities or any of the communities in the lemmy federation of planets

I might give the alien creature a name. TBD.

Is this stupid?

Remaining challenges:

I suspect a guiding the user to select the same “home planet” if they log out could be an issue.
Should I explain that not all planets live in the same Federation? I’m thinking no.

Would love to reinforce this with animations that really drive the idea home. Almost like cut scenes from a video game. But that is beyond my area of expertise, for now.

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[–] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 days ago

Funny personalities don't make people laugh, and therefore aren't really funny. They're more patronizing and infantalizing.

Should I explain that not all planets live in the same Federation? I’m thinking no.

I think you've already gone astray from really explaining the (relatively simple) relationship between federated instances. It's already confusing because you're trying to make it fun.

I say, give your app whatever functionality you think is best, and the aesthetic/style/personality you think is best, but don't worry about making the fediverse "fun." Fun descriptions actually distract from the information.