Mastodon.social has no advantages over any other Mastodon server. It has no special status or privileges, it uses exactly the same software as other Mastodon servers.
In fact I'd strongly advise people *NOT* to sign up on mastodon.social, here are the reasons why: fedi.tips/its-a-really-bad-ide…
TL:DR - It's far far too big, it's putting the entire decentralised nature of the Fediverse in danger.
If you want help choosing a good reliable server, have a look at fedi.garden
Mastodon.social is not a good way to join Mastodon. If you’re already on it, you might want to move your account to a different Mastodon server. | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse
An unofficial guide to using Mastodon and the FediverseFediTips (Fedi.Tips - An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse)
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Fedi.Tips
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •reshared this
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Lappenjammer
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Since you kindly offer to answer any questions: I chose to open my account on openbiblio.social. They have been offline since 26 December. I have since learned that was caused by their provider netcup who did not help to get anything fixed (paraphrasing the information here).
So how does one choose a server without knowing what kind of infrastructure they rely on? I'd never consiously chosen a US infrastructure.
Fedi.Tips
in reply to Lappenjammer • • •OpenBiblio.social seems to be working here when I tried it just now, is it still not working at your end?
About choosing a server, I've got a site for non-technical people at fedi.garden where all the servers have promised to be compatible with the points at fedi.garden/about-this-site
For more technical people who want a longer non-curated list, try fedidb.com/servers (but there are no promises made on that site).
About this site | Fedi.Garden – An easy way to join Mastodon and the Fediverse
puutarhamestari (Fedi.Garden - An easy way to join Mastodon and the Fediverse)Lappenjammer
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Lappenjammer • • •Unfortunately this is a risk with any online service, even the largest 😞 (e.g. theguardian.com/technology/201… )
What was the process by which you chose OpenBiblio by the way? I'm wondering if there's some way to improve the listing site. I don't think I've listed them on Fedi.Garden, were they on JoinMastodon? If they were listed on either site, they should have had daily backups to avoid this scenario.
Myspace loses all content uploaded before 2016
Alex Hern (the Guardian)Lappenjammer
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •First I love libraries a lot and implicity trust them, and different from other organisations I know them and how they are governed.
Secondly I always thought they would self host. Never checked this assumpion until now. Feel a bit stupid now as I could k ow better about German IT infrastructure.
I want to stay as far away from big tech and US tech aus humanly possible. So even some European servers are not exactly desirable.
Fedi.Tips
in reply to Lappenjammer • • •@LappenjammerDieZweite
Damn... that's awful, I can totally understand why you chose them, I would have done the same.
It's very odd they didn't have backups, are they definitely not going to have anything restored after November? 😞
Lappenjammer
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Thank you 🥹
They have written that all data after that is irretrievable
(bibcourse.eu/t/https-openbibli…)
Being a massive believer in tech redundancy and secure storage of data and documentation this does rock my trust (as a non-tech person myself I rely on experts). I mean, if *libraries* lose data, what is safe in this world?
Of course in my case it is "only" social Media banter. Just after losing 90% of my Twitter mutuals that either stayed or chose Jack's Next Promise I feel strangely vulnarable for losing a community in a time of need. Again.
Https://openbiblio.social down?
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Fedi.Tips
in reply to Lappenjammer • • •@LappenjammerDieZweite
Indeed, one would expect libraries to take archiving seriously!
Kye Fox
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •@LappenjammerDieZweite It's possible to avoid it on ATproto, but it takes some extra steps. Mainly adding a rotation key for adversarial migration. Non-Bluesky platforms, relays, and PDSes would need to move to one of the major PLC mirrors if the collapse was big enough.
AP might become the same if the recent initiative to advance ActivityPods and C2S takes off.
Fedi.Tips
in reply to Kye Fox • • •@Kye @LappenjammerDieZweite
You can't avoid this risk on any online platform, anything online could shut down or be misconfigured.
Also, ATProto isn't decentralised: plus.flux.community/p/banning-…
Banning controversy reveals Bluesky’s federation isn’t there yet
Matthew Sheffield (Flux)Kye Fox
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Kye Fox • • •@Kye
If it's not decentralised then there's no meaningful migration.
Kye Fox
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Kye Fox • • •Um... you're the one replying to my thread?
Kind of weird to reply to someone and tell them to go away?
Kye Fox
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •A mention of Bluesky exists but my comment isn't _about_ Bluesky. If you bothered you read instead of go off on a weird ideological rant based on a single word you would know that. _You_ made it about Bluesky.
Now buzz off.
Fedi.Tips
in reply to Kye Fox • • •@Kye
You can't reply to someone else's thread and tell them to buzz off, it makes no sense? 🙂
Samir Al-Battran
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •@Kye
ooohhh. This view is actually not very accurate and is probably based on outdated information
ATProto is decentraised (in fact it has better migration path than Mastodon, try to move a Mastodon account or even rename it and see how your content is lost)
Also Blacksky has launched their own AppView, there is also gander social working on appview, these are all recent implementations more to come
always tired
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to always tired • • •@project1enigma
I've tried to build upon the wording on JoinMastodon, as many servers were already complying with that.
But if any server tolerates antisemitism, ableism or other bigotry I will of course remove it from fedi.garden.
always tired
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Just Staci
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Alex
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •gusseting
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •I’m interested in hosting my own (along with my website), but need a host: might you have a blog post with further info/recommendations?
Fedi.Tips
in reply to gusseting • • •@gusseting
Yes!
There's a quick guide to the options for making your own server at fedi.tips/how-do-i-create-my-o…
I also did a guide for non-technical people creating a Mastodon server on managed hosting at growyourown.services/making-yo…
How to create your own Mastodon server in 10 steps – Grow Your Own Services
GrowYourOwn (Grow Your Own Services)gusseting
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •The Tattooed Nonna 🫒
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •RememberUsAlways
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
Unknown parent • • •@rhizomancer @LappenjammerDieZweite
I've tried to make it easier for people to choose a server at fedi.garden
Fedi.Garden
puutarhamestari (Fedi.Garden)Fedi.Tips
Unknown parent • • •Short answer: I wouldn't worry about size on here 🙂
Longer answer:
I know most online things are run by corporations, but things are different on here as most servers are run by volunteers and supported by members' donations.
Being a big server can make life more difficult for the person running it because their costs go up. There are plenty of servers that have been going since the beginning of Mastodon which are still small, and the people running them like it that way.
Lappenjammer
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Raymond Russell
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
Unknown parent • • •@effariwhy
Sounds good 🙂
You can move back and forth as often as you want, so if you change your mind you can always transfer stuff back.
veroandi_br
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •@Fedi.Tips
I think mastodon.social is "ok" for people to start using. It's like starting high school without knowing anyone or where to find your group. Gradually, you'll discover where the like-minded people are. Then you'll move closer to them.
Choosing an instance is not easy, at least not if you want to do it thoughtfully. The quality of the infrastructure and moderation varies, so you need to compare options - it demands effort.
I tell people who get worried when they see people criticising the largest instances to take their time to find their place. Keep posting and following people, and you'll gradually see new instances appear in your feed. There's no need to feel guilty; just observe and be ready to move when you find one that suits you. You can choose based on your language (especially if it's not English, it's very useful to be in an instance where people speak your language), your country or city, or a thematic instance where it'll be easier
... Show more...@Fedi.Tips
I think mastodon.social is "ok" for people to start using. It's like starting high school without knowing anyone or where to find your group. Gradually, you'll discover where the like-minded people are. Then you'll move closer to them.
Choosing an instance is not easy, at least not if you want to do it thoughtfully. The quality of the infrastructure and moderation varies, so you need to compare options - it demands effort.
I tell people who get worried when they see people criticising the largest instances to take their time to find their place. Keep posting and following people, and you'll gradually see new instances appear in your feed. There's no need to feel guilty; just observe and be ready to move when you find one that suits you. You can choose based on your language (especially if it's not English, it's very useful to be in an instance where people speak your language), your country or city, or a thematic instance where it'll be easier to find people who like the same things as you, such as games, technology, veganism, art, science etc. There are instances with different features; you can choose one based on trust in a specific admin. There are so many things to consider!
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Fedi.Tips
in reply to veroandi_br • • •@veroandi
Mastodon.social doesn't help new people in any way though? They would find it just as easy starting on (for example) ohai.social.
"Choosing an instance is not easy"
I've tried to make it as possible at fedi.garden
If there's any way I can make the site easier feedback very welcome 🙂
Fedi.Garden
puutarhamestari (Fedi.Garden)veroandi_br likes this.
veroandi_br
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •@Fedi.Tips
Yes, you do a great work and I'm sure it's easier to choose if people follow your guides! 😉
The difficult part is deciding based on admin trust, rules and jurisdiction, and knowing in advance about infrastructure, security/backups, and if it is active enough and well connected to others. That's why I said, 'at least not if you want to do it thoughtfully.' Nobody can do that for you, and the sad thing is that when people choose 'the bad instance', others usually blame them for not choosing carefully enough.
Ohai seems good. They publish information about their infrastructure and the full names of the people behind it - it's an IT company, if I understand correctly? - and the page loads very quickly. I tried searching for accounts from my country and found some, so it's not isolated in Europe. It could also be a good starting point since it's generic and not limited to a particular theme or ideology.
lor
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •0===}::::::::::::::::::::::::>
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to 0===}::::::::::::::::::::::::> • • •@victor_leries
Yes, there is!
I've done a guide about it at fedi.tips/transferring-your-ma…
Transferring your Mastodon account to another server | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse
FediTips (Fedi.Tips - An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse)0===}::::::::::::::::::::::::>
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Ken Butler
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Ken Butler • • •@nxskok
Glad to hear it's gone well! 🙂
____laras____
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Frieke
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Frieke • • •@Frieke72
You can transfer your followers, follows, bookmarks, lists, mutes, blocks and domain blocks.
Your posts remain on the previous server, but they redirect people to your new account.
More info on how to transfer at fedi.tips/transferring-your-ma…
Transferring your Mastodon account to another server | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse
FediTips (Fedi.Tips - An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse)Stomata 🥼
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Frieke
in reply to Stomata 🥼 • • •@Stomata Sharkey? Image of 🦈 flashes by....
But this sounds great., now I've got to learn about instances 🤓 and see if mastodon.nl is one. Can you answer this @support ?
@FediTips
Fedi.Tips
in reply to Frieke • • •@Frieke72 @Stomata @support
Yes, Mastodon.nl is an instance (also known as a server).
Sharkey is a very different kind of platform, it's got a very different interface. I'd recommend beginners starting on Mastodon as it's a bit easier and currently better supported, as you can move to a Sharkey server later if you want to.
Michel Patrice
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •You say that you have over 200,000 followers and is on a single user server.
What kind of server do you have? I mean, what kind of RAM and storage, if these are the relevant specs?
Fedi.Tips
in reply to Michel Patrice • • •@MichelPatrice
I use the managed hosting service @mastohost
They do all the techy stuff so they would know the specs. I assume I'm on some kind of shared server with other instances.
Michel Patrice
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •@mastohost
Thank you!
James Tweedie
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Since then (because of frequent 'outages' on .world) I moved to a local server (Mastodon.scot) - best move and easy enough to do!
Robin Forlonge Patterson
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Robin Forlonge Patterson • • •@RFPatterson
Most people only need one account on one server, because the servers talk to each other: fedi.tips/do-i-need-multiple-a…
But there are certain situations where multiple accounts are useful: fedi.tips/using-multiple-accou…
Using multiple accounts on Mastodon and the Fediverse | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse
FediTips (Fedi.Tips - An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse)CathyBikesBook[MOVING SOON]
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •veroandi_br likes this.
Fedi.Tips
in reply to CathyBikesBook[MOVING SOON] • • •@CathyBikesBook
Thanks for the feedback 🙏
I've made a sign-up site at fedi.garden which hopefully avoids this confusion. If there's anything I can do to make it even less confusing, feedback welcome there too.
I know it is confusing but there are really important reasons why there are so many servers: fedi.tips/why-is-the-fediverse…
Why is the Fediverse on so many separate servers? | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse
FediTips (Fedi.Tips - An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse)arosano 🇩🇰 🇮🇱
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Imbrium Photo
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to Imbrium Photo • • •@imbrium_photography
Most instances don't suspend mastodon.social, but if they do the workaround is to move to a third server that federates with both, then from the third server to the one you want.
Imbrium Photo
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •While I could do A->[C]->B I suspect it will be easier just to find an instance C that I like and do A->C ... and there are some accounts on mastodon.social that I follow and wouldn't be able to see on B ...
MagicMutti
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Thanks for the information! I just moved from mastodon.social to muenchen.social.
Thanks to your helpful instructions everything went well 😄
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Fedi.Tips
in reply to MagicMutti • • •@MagicMutti
Brilliant to hear it went well! 🙂 Hope you have fun on the new server.
David Willanski
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
in reply to David Willanski • • •@dwillanski
That was attempted by various distributed networks, maybe most famously Scuttlebutt.
However, the current structure of the internet apparently made this very difficult and they still had to use multiuser instances called "pubs" so people could discover others to follow.
One of the most prominent Scuttlebutt projects was @manyver_se but it seems to be dormant now.
Craig Lambie
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Helps if you are browsing another server to follow users on that server.
GitHub - cclambie/fediverse-home-server-refactor: Takes links from an activity pub page and refactors them to your saved home server, so it is easier to follow them.
GitHubkali
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •Fedi.Tips
Unknown parent • • •"Then change the onboarding journey."
That is what I am trying to do, that's why I wrote that article and that post 🙂
That's why I run the site at fedi.garden
I do not control the website JoinMastodon.org nor do I control the search results on Google so I can't really change those.
Fedi.Garden
puutarhamestari (Fedi.Garden)Cali's Vassal Duke 4 Denmark
in reply to Fedi.Tips • • •