Considered by some to be the “WordPress of Twitter” (since you can host the software upon your own server), Status.net is slowly gaining popularity in an age where everything social is centralized (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
With version 1.0 immenent, Status.net has announced plans to release a new feature which could help differentiate the software from its (larger) Twitter rival.
Unlike twitter’s lists, we have used a new concept we call people tags. People tags are self-descriptive keywords that you can associate with one or more profiles (including your own). People tags are easy to create and maintain, just browse to a user’s profile and click on the edit button next to the existing tags to edit them. You will be presented with a list of tags you have already created to choose from or you can go ahead and type a new one. Clicking on “Save” then saves the tags. Each people tag by a given user has a timeline of updates from its members. If the people tag is not private, you can subscribe to it. Each people tag also has its own editing interface where you can remove existing members or search and add new ones. (Status.net Blog)
Truth be told this feature looks very similar to Twitter hashtags, with the only difference is that Status.net’s hyperlinks them upon your profile while Twitter thus far has not (even thought people put hashtags in tweet profiles).
Since people tags are “federated” (or in non-geek speak available to Status.net and self hosted users), users will be able to easily socialize with each other across decentralized networks without fear of fragmentation.
The feature is in beta testing right now, and Status.net plans on rolling out the feature when version 1.0 goes live later on (hopefully in the near future).
