> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://justincox.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Era of Centralized Platforms Is Over - URL: https://justincox.com/blog/2023/02/the-era-of-centralized-platforms-is-over/ - Published: 2023-02-28T07:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2024-03-17T20:06:14.000Z - Description: This Week In Writing, we discuss whether you should still own a website if you publish on Medium or Substack. - Author: Justin Cox - Tags: Publishing, This Just In, #This Week In Writing, Featured, Craft, #mastodon, #medium, #substack, #twitter Last week, Shannon posted a question in [My Writing Community](https://mywritingcommunity.com/?ref=justincox.com). She asked, “If you write on Medium, do you also need a WordPress blog?” Over the last few months, my answer to this question has changed. But before we get to that, let’s take a quick look at what platforms are up to. Twitter wants you to [pay to play](https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-sms-2fa-twitter-blue/?ref=justincox.com); now, Meta is [following suit](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/19/meta-is-rolling-out-a-new-paid-verification-subscription-service-for-instagram-and-facebook-users.html?ref=justincox.com). Want a secure experience? Your posts to appear in people’s feeds? The platforms want you to pony up. These features *used* to be free. Now, they’re an upgrade. Why? [Ad revenue is done](https://www.reuters.com/technology/ad-spending-twitter-falls-by-over-70-dec-data-2023-01-25/?ref=justincox.com). [User engagement is down](https://www.fastcompany.com/90854357/instagram-engagement-down-brands-why-tiktok-posts?ref=justincox.com). The platforms are trying to hold onto profits without providing additional features. You ask me, it seems like a losing game. However, there *are* people who will pay. After all, Twitter and Facebook have been around for nearly two decades. I joined Facebook in 2004 and Twitter in 2008\. That’s *a lot* of ingrained history, and these companies are literally banking on the fact that we all find it too difficult to leave. Mastodon proves leaving is not only possible but [much more fun](https://justincox.com/blog/2023/01/are-you-begging-for-eyes-in-the-attention-economy/). Over the last month, I’ve set up my own Mastodon instance. Today, my account is [@justin@cox.rocks](https://mastodon.justincox.com/?ref=justincox.com) because I’m a 90s kid and, well, I rock. During the setup process, I learned that (while technologically different), running a Mastodon instance is similar to running a WordPress blog. Both require a server, both give you total control over your content, and both can be moved to a different server at will. It’s a simplified analogy, but it works. While looking at how to integrate my WordPress site with Mastodon, I learned about the [IndieWeb](https://indieweb.org/?ref=justincox.com) concept of [POSSE](https://indieweb.org/POSSE?ref=justincox.com) (**P**ublish on your **O**wn **S**ite, **S**yndicate **E**verywhere). Controlling your writing is essential. You give up that control when you publish on a platform of any kind (Medium, Substack, LinkedIn, Twitter, wherever). You put the distribution into the hands of a company without your interest in mind. Instead, by following POSSE, if you publish on your site, then you control the distribution. You can choose to syndicate that writing on a platform if you want and benefit from their distribution *while*maintaining full control of your work. The key is it’s *your* choice. By syndicating from your site, you also provide a place where everything points. Your website, under your control, remains a constant. As platforms come and go, your website remains. Frankly, I should have realized this years ago, but I’m glad I’m coming around to it now. So, to answer Shannon’s question, ***yes***, you should still have a website if you write on a platform like Medium or Substack. While I use and recommend WordPress, there are plenty of ways to build and maintain a personal site. Find the one that works for you. I recently added the [IndieWeb Syndication Links plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/syndication-links/?ref=justincox.com) to my WordPress site. It displays the places I’ve syndicated to on each post. Yes, this strategy is more work than publishing in a single location and relying on their distribution strategy. However, this method also protects you from platforms closing or deciding that charging for basic features is now a good idea. **Do you run your own website in addition to publishing on platforms?** Share the link in the comments, and let’s create an old-fashioned webring! ## Speaking Of Mastodon… For those interested, here is a quick technical explanation of how I set up my Mastodon server. I began by transferring my web hosting from Dreamhost to [Opalstack](https://opalstack.com/?ref=justincox.com). The pricing is better, and the support and features are fantastic. Opalstack also has a one-click installation of Mastodon, which is amazing. What I learned over the course of a month is that managing a Mastodon server requires a lot of system administration. Logging in via SSH to adjust settings, reduce resource usage, and more. I became obsessed with my server’s RAM usage. It was not the social media experience I was hoping for. So, I moved my server instance from Opalstack to [Masto.host](https://masto.host/?ref=justincox.com). Hugo, who runs Masto.host, provided incredible support and personally did the system transfer. Now, I can run the server as I want without the pesky system administration side. Masto.host manages the server resources, and I just have fun. Opalstack continues to host my website. Are you on Mastodon and looking to connect? Find me at [cox.rocks](https://mastodon.justincox.com/?ref=justincox.com).