Twitter, this platform that we all know, has not always been synonymous with friendliness and goodwill. What would you say if I told you that an alternative existed, capable of offering you enriching exchanges without the disadvantages of the blue bird? Get ready to embark on a journey to the heart of Mastodon, a universe that could well change the way you perceive social networks.
Navigating this new world may seem confusing, but don't worry: our practical guide is here to accompany you step by step in your discovery of Mastodon, revealing the secrets to an optimal user experience.
Introducing Mastodon, the new Twitter?
Mastodon is a great alternative to networks of traditional social media like Twitter and its user interface shouldn't be too difficult to pick up. Its operation is quite simple:
- You can create “toots”, which are the equivalent of 500 character tweets.
- Boost or retweet something you find interesting.
- And favor something like you would with a heart on Twitter.
What sets Mastodon apart is that it's decentralized and community-owned, meaning no ads or intrusive algorithms will ever determine what your feed looks like, only chronological posts. If this is something that interests you, you will have several servers to choose from depending on your interests.
Another advantage of Mastodon is privacy protection. Indeed, users can automatically delete their messages after a certain period of time. They also control their visibility in search engines. Mastodon allows you to validate subscriptions before accessing your content.
With these features, Mastodon gives users greater flexibility in how they use the platform.
What you need to know about how Mastodon works
Unlike Twitter, Mastodon relies on several servers, called “instances” in the Mastodon universe. Contrary to popular belief, Mastodon is open source software for self-hosting social media services. So, everyone can create and manage their own Mastodon server.
Simply put, Mastodon is not a single social networking site, but a multitude of independent sites named Mastodon servers/instances. To get started, you need to choose a server.
Each server/instance has its own rules, moderation policies and terms of service, defined by its owner, whether an individual or an organization.
Among the most popular Mastodon servers is mastodon.social, owned by Mastodon founder Eugen Rochko. However, following the massive influx of users, this server no longer accepts registrations. Fortunately, other servers are available.
No matter which server you choose, you will be able to follow and interact with users from other servers. However, your content must respect the policy of the selected server. It is therefore crucial to choose your server carefully.
First steps on Mastodon
To get started with Mastodon, start by determining how you use it. Several third-party and official applications exist for Mastodon. We advise you to use official applications Android/iOS, or go to joinmastodon.org from a computer browser. Once you are familiar with the platform, you can test third-party applications that offer more features.
We will describe the process from joinmastodon.org on a computer browser. An advantage of using the web rather than the mobile app is that you can explore a server's posts and hashtags before joining it.
Here are the steps to register on Mastodon:
- Visit the website joinmastodon.org with your favorite browser and click on “Create an account”.
- You will be redirected to the Mastodon Servers page. Explore the options available in various areas and filter them by language or region.
- Select a server based on its type (open, requiring approval, or invitation-based) and click “Create Account” or “Request Account.”
- Read and accept the server rules.
- Complete the registration form. If necessary, explain why you want to join the server. Click “Register”.
- For open registration servers, a confirmation email will be sent: follow the link to get started. For servers requiring approval, wait for approval from moderators, the timing of which may vary by server.
Once you've cleared that milestone, it's time to start exploring all that Mastodon has to offer!
Using Mastodon: A Beginner's Guide
After creating your Mastodon account, it's time to enjoy the platform.
Mastodon is an interface that allows you to communicate with people around the world. With three separate threads on its interface, it allows users to share and discover content in a more specialized way.
Find people to follow
One of the first steps is to identify interesting people to follow. Mastodon favors connections over commitment, without an algorithm to influence your news feed. You'll only see posts from people you follow, in chronological order.
Tracking members of your server is simple. You will see them as soon as your account is activated. To follow someone from another server, you will need their full Mastodon address, consisting of username and server name/domain. For example, Eugen Rochko's address on the mastodon.social server is @Gargron@mastodon.social.
Use the search bar to enter a person's username, then search and follow them.
Share your thoughts on Mastodon
Posting, or “tooting,” on Mastodon has similarities to Twitter, but with some subtleties to discover.
Head to the text field to write your toot, taking advantage of the generous 500 character limit. You can also enrich your posts with photos, videos, audio files and polls with the attachments and polls options.
In the body of your post, you can insert links, mentions, hashtags and even custom emojis to enrich your message.
Once you're done, tap the "Publish" button.
Discover your news feed
First, the “Home” tab shows posts from people you follow.
Next, by selecting the “Local Public Feed” tab, you will see the latest public posts from users on your server.
Additionally, the “Global Public Feed” option allows you to access the federated timeline, which brings together recent public posts from your server and other Mastodon servers. It's a great way to discover new users.
Finally, the “Explore” page highlights popular posts on your server and across the Mastodon network. Don't hesitate to boost (the equivalent of retweet), like, reply and add to favorites the messages you encounter on these news feeds.
Conclusion
Mastodon is a great way to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues. To use Mastodon effectively, users must become familiar with the platform. It is important to remember that each account in Mastodon is created under an open source server, this means that other people from different servers can see your messages and even follow or join conversations within your server.
As long as users are careful about the content they post and their etiquette, they can enjoy Mastodon's many benefits, such as the ability to communicate in multiple languages at once and receive updates on user-generated content in real time.