Newsletter platform Ghost has taken a significant step towards openness by launching ActivityPub support in beta for its Pro users. This move allows bloggers to share their content across various social platforms that support the open ActivityPub protocol, including Mastodon, Pixelfed, and Threads.

The feature, initially promised to launch in 2024, enables users on these platforms to follow and see content from Ghost writers who pay for the "Pro" subscription. Moreover, social users can also comment on pieces regardless of which app they're on. This openness sets Ghost apart from its larger competitor, Substack, which largely blocks its users from sharing posted content off-platform and makes it tough to leave.

Ghost's approach gives users more freedom, allowing them to publish content directly to the fediverse. Additionally, the platform offers an "Inbox" where Ghost users can receive news articles and blogs from across Ghost and WordPress. Ghost also has its own social web reader software that can view posts from compatible social media services, notify users if someone likes, comments, or shares their content, and lets them customize their public profile.

However, there are some limitations to Ghost's ActivityPub support. For instance, Meta's Threads service doesn't allow Ghost users to interact directly with Threads users. Despite this, Ghost's move towards openness is a significant step forward in the newsletter platform space.

To activate ActivityPub, Ghost(Pro) users can navigate to Ghost Admin > Settings > Labs. This development is likely to have significant implications for the newsletter industry, as it provides users with more flexibility and control over their content.

The launch of ActivityPub support on Ghost also raises questions about the future of content sharing and social media platforms. As the tech industry continues to shift towards more open and decentralized models, Ghost's move may be seen as a precursor to a larger trend. With its focus on openness and user freedom, Ghost is positioning itself as a leader in the newsletter platform space.

As the beta launch of ActivityPub support continues to roll out, it will be interesting to see how users respond to this new feature and how it impacts the overall newsletter ecosystem. One thing is certain, however - Ghost's move towards openness is a significant step forward for the industry, and one that is likely to have far-reaching implications.