cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/45437770

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Fediverse ALT issue.

Some people are annoyed by posts without Alttext, & others get reminded¹ to add it.

The core question is: How can we improve accessibility?

Proposal: ☑️ Add a user filter to hide media posts without AltTag ☑️ Reduced engagement on hidden posts would encourage adding Alt text ☑️ People who need accessibility wouldn’t have to encounter unlabeled media

If this gets traction, I’ll open a Mastodon GitHub issue (maybe on others too?).

¹ https://mastodon.social/@madeindex/113996311493021102

  • Andrew Beveridge@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    132·
    9 hours ago

    These days, it would probably be more effective to make it easy for instance operators hook up a local multi modal llm to the server to auto generate alt text for all images posted on their instance. I’d happily donate to cover the infrastructure costs for any instance owner who was doing that

      • Andrew Beveridge@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        46 minutes ago

        It’s a polarised topic but doesn’t need to be, IMO - I still see it as a tool, albeit a powerful one with lots of risks and drawbacks, but the cats out of the bag at this point so we may as well roll with it and make the most of the applications for good. Like with many other massive, rapid technical advancements of the past.

    • MadeInDex 📰🌎@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      10·
      9 hours ago

      Definitely more effective than every disabled person etc. having to generate it! Have you seen the Mastodon image text to alt text feature? I guess they could simply expand on that?