We are excited to share that we are beginning work on a new onboarding experiment for #Mastodon: Default Server Recommendations.

@renwillis and very often, it's simply not true. They made their choice and now they're looking for excuses to rectify it. 50% of the statements I read about Mastodon either never were true or they address problems/lacking functions already resolved long time ago. At the same time crowds still chose BlueSky over Mastodon, when there was:

- no videos
- no Hashtags
- no search functionality
- no DMs

That's ideology ‍️

For all the other, open-minded ones, is continuing to improve

@Mastodon

️ check out the thread, admins:

cc.
@chm
@admin@mastodon.nu
@trumpet
@hugo
@xaphanpl
@admin@paktodon.asia
@tc
@xrobau
@team
@sysadmin
@amministratore
@mastodonie
@maop
@kenobit
@chief
@support
@admin@piaille.fr
@valvoja
@henri
@saustrup
@donelias
@admini
@spla
@announcements
@mike@thecanadian.social
@admin@mastodon.com.br
@adrian
@xrobau
@aussocialadmin
@mike@chinwag.org

@renwillis and very often, it's simply not true. They made their choice and now they're looking for excuses to rectify it. 50% of the statements I read about Mastodon either never were true or they address problems/lacking functions already resolved long time ago. At the same time crowds still chose BlueSky over Mastodon, when there was:

- no videos
- no Hashtags
- no search functionality
- no DMs

That's ideology ‍️

For all the other, open-minded ones, is continuing to improve

@tragivictoria @WestLawns @Mastodon I prefer to forget about borders at least here.

We are excited to share that we are beginning work on a new onboarding experiment for #Mastodon: Default Server Recommendations.

Our intent for this experiment is to recommend the closest server geographically that is in the correct language during the sign-up flow. We will be running this experiment on our iOS and Android apps only to start.

1/6

@sunnythesheep There’s plenty of criticisms, many valid, about Mastodon. I love it, but it’s no panacea. People went to Bluesky because a) it was easy and b) because of *that* the “cool kids” went there and folks followed.

Add in a quick feed to get people engaging? Check done.

Mastodon & the fediverse at large can be the long term solution, but we still got a ways to go!

@renwillis but I explicitly wasn't taking about the valid criticism, but about simply made up ones, which I still encounter so often. And which I really got tired to even reply to.

And about Bluesky: the moment it started, it wasn't "easy" at all. It was way behind Mastodon at the very beginning and you even had to beg and wait for an invitation code to get started At this very moment, it DOES have better usability, than Mastodon (at least for who loves algorithms), but you'd be surprised to

We are excited to share that we are beginning work on a new onboarding experiment for #Mastodon: Default Server Recommendations.

Our intent for this experiment is to recommend the closest server geographically that is in the correct language during the sign-up flow. We will be running this experiment on our iOS and Android apps only to start.

1/6

@renwillis ... see Mastodon's current, new sign up process (so was I).

Still, federation (despite its HUGE advantages for digital sovereignty!) will always have downsides, too. It's a choice you actively have to make.

If you’re interested in participating in this experiment, please let us know by filling out this form.

(sorry it’s in Google docs)

https://forms.gle/7uRui5VnMPfEYAgq8

5/6

Starting now, we’re recruiting general purpose servers with open sign-ups. To be eligible, servers must:

- Run default Mastodon (for now)
- Agree to the Server Covenant
- Have existed for 1+ year
- Have shut-down & disaster plans

4/6

@jippi er expressional.social også med her?

@aphandersen nej, men måske okay spændende

If you’re interested in participating in this experiment, please let us know by filling out this form.

(sorry it’s in Google docs)

https://forms.gle/7uRui5VnMPfEYAgq8

5/6

@admin @Mastodon hey! The only thing to do for now is make sure you’re meeting these eligibility requirements:

- Run default Mastodon (for now)
- Agree to the Server Covenant
- Have existed for 1+ year
- Have shut-down & disaster plans

Besides that, stay tuned!

@andrewblasco @Mastodon

It's a double edged sword. Yes, mastodon.social is large and unweildy, but as the default it kept me from ignorantly joining a toxic instance like beigeparty. I'm for change, but it's yet to be seen how this plays out in practice.

A better solution might be something like an official introductory instance where you get 6 months to get your footing and then it prompts you to migrate and gives you a selection of vetted servers. Like pushing a baby bird out of the nest.

@haubles @admin @Mastodon

This is awesome! I would be happy to host more folks on my server. I just need some guidance on how to reduce the cost a bit. I am not sure how to get images, videos, etc, to less expensive storage on Digital Ocean. Anyone out there that could point me in the right direction?

Starting now, we’re recruiting general purpose servers with open sign-ups. To be eligible, servers must:

- Run default Mastodon (for now)
- Agree to the Server Covenant
- Have existed for 1+ year
- Have shut-down & disaster plans

4/6

@Mastodon can we have something like a quota? Not to overflow a small instance?

@Mastodon I presume by "default Mastodon", you mean that if a server has so much as changed the max characters per post from the default 500, they won't be eligible?

Otherwise, I think this is a fantastic idea!