Tumblr, the popular blogging platform owned by Automattic, is finally sharing more details about its plans to integrate with the fediverse, an open social web powered by the ActivityPub protocol. The integration, which has been teased since 2022, will come about as a result of Tumblr's planned migration to the WordPress infrastructure.

The move to WordPress will enable every Tumblr user to federate their blog via ActivityPub, just like WordPress.com users can today. This means that Tumblr users will be able to participate in the open social web, interacting with users on other platforms that also support ActivityPub, such as Mastodon, Threads, and Flipboard.

The migration to WordPress is part of Automattic's larger effort to build tools and features that work across both Tumblr and WordPress.com. By leveraging the open-source developments from WordPress.org, Tumblr will be able to take advantage of new features and efficiencies without changing the interface and experience that its user base has grown to love.

Although Automattic declined to share a specific timeline for the migration, the company described the progress so far as "exciting." The move is expected to enable other open web integrations, such as allowing Tumblr users to run custom plug-ins or themes.

Tumblr's confirmation of its fediverse integration plans comes after users had been wondering about the status of the company's open social web efforts. In a recent Q&A on Tumblr's Work In Progress blog, the company confirmed that fediverse integration was "one big reason" for the migration and that it would "for sure" include support for WordPress' existing ActivityPub plug-ins.

However, Automattic remained tight-lipped about whether it would consider integration with the AT Protocol, which powers the growing social networking startup Bluesky. When asked about potential integration with Bluesky, a spokesperson would only comment on Tumblr's ActivityPub progress.

The implications of Tumblr's fediverse integration are significant, as it will enable users to participate in a larger, decentralized social web. This could lead to new opportunities for content discovery, collaboration, and community-building across platforms. As the open social web continues to evolve, Tumblr's integration with the fediverse is an important step towards creating a more interconnected and democratic online ecosystem.

With the migration to WordPress infrastructure underway, Tumblr users can look forward to a new era of openness and interoperability. While the exact timeline for the integration remains unclear, the company's commitment to the open social web is a promising development for the future of online communication and collaboration.