The problem with any social platform is that people tend to go where their friends and family are at. Add to that that most people will just have one account for anything. Like when people have their Facebook account, they're not going to take the 5 minutes to open up a friendica account, if they even know that exists to begin with.

Ways forward?

Don't fuck up and let meta/Google/apple/reddit/etc fuck up more nad more, making people leave and search for alternatives

Find a billionaire friendly to the cause and willing to invest in development and marketing

Keep evangelizing friends and family, but hell, even some close friends that are nerd developers are still on Reddit for some messed up reason.