I read a message from someone in a social media platform private group yesterday. They were pointing out some of the many issues with typical social media platforms. I floated the idea of checking out NOSTR and a few inquiring minds asked for an explanation. How did I do #NOSTR?
NOSTR is like a simpler and more private version of social media. Instead of big companies controlling the platform, anyone can join, share, and follow others without needing permission. Your posts, called notes, are sent directly through different independent servers, so no single company can block or own your content. You’re in control, and what you share belongs to you.
Think of it like sending postcards to friends, but instead of going through one post office that reads and controls everything, you have many small post offices you can choose from — and only your friends see the postcards. But by visiting these small post offices, you find and meet new people with similar interests, exchange information and began exchanging posts cards with them.
Your question about different interfaces. Imagine if each post office customer service desk looked and felt different because they were built by people who enjoy contributing to the post office system and have the development skills/time to develop and maintain their version of a post office front desk. The rest of the post office operates the same way, by distributing post cards. But each post office customer service desk can offer a different user experience.
NOSTR is like the agreed upon rules the people and post office uses to send and receive postcards.
In most social media today, your account belongs to the platform, like Facebook or Instagram. They decide how you log in, what you can post, and whether you stay on their platform. If they want, they can delete your account or restrict your access.
NOSTR flips that around. You own your identity. Instead of creating an account with a company, you have a digital key — like your own personal signature. This key is yours, and it lets you access NOSTR from any app that supports it. Since you own the key, no company can ban or delete you, and your connections and content always stay with you, not on some company's servers.
It’s like having your own house key instead of renting a room in someone else’s building where they can lock you out whenever they want.
I use the front office desk called #Primal.
https://primal.net/home
I hope this helps.