Note: Generated with GPT-4 (dont hate me :) )

The Fediverse (with ActivityPub as its main protocol) and Usenet are both decentralized systems for distributing content across networks of computers. They’re used for communication and often form the backbone of various social media platforms and discussion forums. However, they have significant differences in terms of their origin, architecture, protocols, and usage. Let’s take a look at the distinctions between them:

1. Origin & Era:

   • Usenet: Originated in 1979, Usenet was one of the earliest Internet systems for public discussions. It was the predecessor to many modern forms of online discussions, such as web forums and bulletin boards.
   • Fediverse/ActivityPub: The concept of the Fediverse (a portmanteau of “federation” and “universe”) emerged in the 2010s. It’s an ensemble of interconnected servers that are used for web publishing (like blogging, microblogging, video hosting) and file hosting. ActivityPub is one of the newer protocols that allows different services on the Fediverse to communicate with one another.

2. Architecture:

   • Usenet: Uses a store-and-forward model where messages are propagated from one server to another, but not all servers retain all messages. It’s based on a newsgroup system where you can post articles that are then propagated to other Usenet servers worldwide.
   • Fediverse/ActivityPub: Is based on a federated model where each instance (or server) can communicate with others, but they are independent in terms of governance, content, and users. Each instance can apply its own policies and rules, and users of one instance can follow and interact with users from another.

3. Content Structure:

   • Usenet: Organized around newsgroups, which are somewhat equivalent to today’s forums or bulletin boards. Each newsgroup covers a particular topic, and people post messages and replies in a threaded manner.
   • Fediverse: More diverse in content structure. Different software on the Fediverse serves different purposes. For instance, Mastodon is for microblogging (similar to Twitter), PeerTube is for video hosting, and Lemmy (which you mentioned) is more like a link aggregator or discussion platform (similar to Reddit).

4. Protocols:

   • Usenet: Primarily uses the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) for distributing, querying, and retrieving news articles.
   • Fediverse/ActivityPub: Utilizes ActivityPub, which is a decentralized social networking protocol. It allows user activity to be shared and understood across different services and platforms.

5. Moderation & Control:

   • Usenet: Largely unmoderated and has been known for both the free exchange of ideas and for spam or unwanted content.
   • Fediverse: Each instance has its own moderation policies. This means one instance might be heavily moderated, while another might be more lenient.

6. Modern Relevance:

   • Usenet: While still operational, Usenet has declined in mainstream popularity and is now mostly a niche platform.
   • Fediverse: Gaining traction, especially among those who value decentralization, privacy, and are disillusioned with mainstream social media platforms.

In summary, while both Usenet and the Fediverse offer decentralized ways of communication, they stem from different eras, are based on different architectures and protocols, and are used in different ways today.