I’ve been a user of Twitter since 2007, but due to a lot of reasons (not just the Musk takeover) I have decided to mothball my account the platform & move to another site for my daily social media posting habits.
Mastodon is a free, open-source social networking platform that is similar to Twitter in many ways. It allows users to post short messages, called “toots,” and follow other users to see their toots in their own timeline. Like Twitter, Mastodon also supports hashtags and mentions, and users can interact with each other through likes, replies, and re-toots.
One of the key differences between Twitter and Mastodon is that Mastodon is decentralized, which means that it is not owned or controlled by a single company or organization. Instead, Mastodon is made up of a network of independent servers, or “instances,” each of which can be run by anyone who wants to host their own Mastodon community. This means that users have more control over their own data and privacy, and can choose the community that aligns best with their interests and values.
Another key difference is that Mastodon is more focused on fostering healthy, positive communities. Many Mastodon instances have strict rules against hate speech, harassment, and other forms of toxic behavior, and some even have moderation teams that monitor and enforce these rules. This can make Mastodon a more pleasant and enjoyable platform to use, compared to Twitter which is often criticized for its lack of moderation and problems with online harassment.
Overall, moving from Twitter to Mastodon can be a positive experience for users who are looking for a more decentralized and community-focused social networking platform.