Ghost connects its newsletters to the open web

Newsletter platform Ghost switched on its fediverse connectivity this week, allowing bloggers to share their works across the various social platforms that support the open ActivityPub protocol. Ghost initially promised the feature would go live in 2024. But it’s available now in beta for Ghost(Pro) users, TechCrunch reports.

With ActivityPub, users on platforms such as Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Threads can follow and see content from Ghost writers who pay for the “Pro” subscription. Social users can also comment on pieces regardless of which app

they’re on. The openness of Ghost helps it stand out against its larger competitor, Substack, which largely blocks its users from sharing posted content off-platform (and makes it tough to leave). Ghost, however, will let users publish content directly to the fediverse, giving them more freedom.

There’s also an “Inbox” where Ghost users can be fed news articles and blogs across Ghost and WordPress. And Ghost has its own social web reader software that can view posts from compatible social media services; notifies you if someone likes, comments, or shares your content; and lets you customize your public profile. However, it doesn’t work smoothly everywhere, as Meta’s Threads services doesn’t allow Ghost users to interact directly with Threads users.

Ghost(Pro) users can activate ActivityPub under Ghost Admin > Settings > Labs.