As Twitter falters under Elon Musk, the decentralized social network Mastodon has exploded onto the scene for those seeking an ethical, community-moderated alternative. With over 1 million monthly active users and gaining steam fast, Mastodon offers a fresh approach to social media under the hood.
But while technically similar, moving over from Twitter involves much more than just creating a new account. By joining specific communities called "instances", you‘ll need to get up to speed on Mastodon‘s unique structure and signup process.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through exactly how to get started on Mastodon, from choosing your first server to customizing your profile. Follow along to learn:
- What is Mastodon and how does it compare to Twitter?
- Detailed instructions for joining servers and creating accounts
- Why you need separate Mastodon accounts for different communities
- Tips and best practices to find your footing
Let‘s dive in and get you set up to thrive across the "fediverse!"
What Makes Mastodon Different Than Twitter?
Before joining, it helps to understand what Mastodon is and how it works under the hood:
Mastodon is comprised of small, topic/location-based communities called servers or instances. Each maintains independent rules around membership, moderation, and content policies.
Yet through an interoperable federated timeline, you can also follow different users across servers and receive their posts. Think email – you can communicate across platforms.
This means Mastodon offers greater decentralization than Twitter‘s single centralized platform of ~300 million users. The servers themselves link together in a grassroots fashion called the "fediverse."
Additionally, Mastodon has…
- No ads, much stronger privacy controls
- Transparent policies tailored by each server‘s community
- Open-source software development driven by consensus
In essence, Mastodon provides an alternative approach by trading global scale for community-level independence and governance.
Step 1: Browse Servers to Join
With no universal Mastodon sign-up, the first step is locating a specific server community to join at joinmastodon.org.
Rather than one giant platform, think of it like joining a specific neighborhood on a broader city map.
Key Criteria for Choosing Your Server:
- Topical focus: Look for niche interest areas like technology, gaming, music etc. Location-based servers also popular.
- Size: Larger servers see more posts, smaller ones encourage tighter connections
- Moderation policy: Review each community‘s rules and codes of conduct
For example based on my interests, I joined the Mastodon.social server focused on open-source technology. But get to know some options to find your best fit!
Tip from a power user: List servers you‘re considering in a spreadsheet to compare key factors before deciding. Prioritize community culture fit.
Step 2: Sign Up for Your Mastodon Account
Once you‘ve browsed servers, click "Sign Up" on your server of choice to create your Mastodon account. The specifics vary but generally:
- Choose your unique username – this will only apply on one server
- Enter your email to verify the account
- Agree to the server terms and policies
- Select a default profile picture and banner
Note your username only needs to be unique within that particular server, vs Twitter‘s globally unique handles.
After submitting for registration, you‘ll receive a confirmation email. Follow the instructions to authorize creating your account!
This includes…
- Clicking the verification link in your email
- Entering a one-time authorization code
- Completing any additional multi-factor authentication
Then…congratulations, you have joined the fediverse!
Step 3: Customize Your Profile and Start Posting!
Upon completing email verification, log into your server of choice via website or mobile app:
You‘ll enter your email and password associated with that server. Time to start navigating Mastodon!
Familiarize yourself with Mastodon‘s profile customization options:
- Upload a banner image
- Add a bio and other profile fields
- Connect other social media accounts like Twitter
From there, it‘s time to start posting! Mastodon‘s short-form posts are called "toots" rather than "tweets".
- Follow other users and servers to populate your home feed
- Post updates with multimedia using 500 characters
- Use hashtags and mentions to connect with the community
- Like and boost (share) posts from others across the fediverse
Review your server‘s posting guidelines as norms vary. Then get engaged with that community!
Do I Need an Account for Every Mastodon Server?
Short answer – yes, you‘ll want a separate Mastodon account for each server community you join.
This gives each server control over sign-ups rather than one account granting universal access. Plus with separate accounts you can:
- Ensure continuity if a server closes
- Participate meaningfully in niche interest servers
- Compare moderation approaches
The key is your accounts are still connected across the federated timeline. I often follow the same people from my tech server account, personal account, local server account etc.
So create accounts freely to build your ideal customized feed! It‘s not as daunting as it sounds.
Tips to Find Your Footing as a Mastodon Newbie
Joining a new platform can be overwhelming. Here are pro tips to quickly become a Mastodon pro:
🔼 Use familiar hashtags from Twitter until you discern norms
🔼 Follow accounts you know from other networks
🔼 Review pinned welcome posts from server mods
🔼 Re-share relevant "boosts" from seasoned users
🔼 Give genuine engagement – likes, re-toots, replies
soon you‘ll get the feel for Mastodon conventions and build an enriching customized feed!
Outlook: Can Mastodon Become the Ethical Twitter Alternative?
While still gaining traction, Mastodon shows promise to address widespread discontent with Twitter‘s future roadmap and policies.
Pros📈
- Less centralized control
- Ad-free experience
- Direct community moderation
Cons 📉
- Limited mobile apps
- Intimidating UX for newbies
- Balkanized audiences
Based on its transparent and participatory structure, I‘m bullish that Mastodon can evolve as Twitter falters. By joining vibrant topic-based servers like Mastodon.social, new users can contribute meaningfully.
So don‘t be afraid to give the plucky little fediverse a toot! Together we have the power to shape Mastodon‘s next chapter – and the future of social media.
