We are excited to share that we are beginning work on a new onboarding experiment for #Mastodon: Default Server Recommendations.
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@Mastodon Open sign-ups? Won't we just get spam from more servers? (Most of our reports are of mastodon.social accounts for this reason).
@Matt_Noyes
Yeah, if by open sign-ups they mean you can sign up without admin approval, then this requirement is either hilariously stupid or purposely crafted so that they can exclude most, if not all, other servers except mastodon.social and then just return to the current status quo.I'd so much like to apply Hanlon's on this, but given how long it took them to start working on this...
@Mastodon -
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 plans4/6
@Mastodon I’m not a server owner or administrator, but could you clarify the term “open sign-up”? Many servers do not automatically approve new accounts to reduce malicious bot signups.
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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
@Mastodon What would be great is to be able to see more than one server in the app, merged into a single feed...
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The Default Server Recommendations experiment is a first step in reimagining how Mastodon onboarding & server discovery work.
Our team’s intent is to work with the community to build new onboarding pathways that support the entire network.
We can’t wait to get started

6/6
@Mastodon I suggest a rule:
That the number of servers that defederate this specific server in her language is low.
To prevent toxic server.
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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
@Mastodon can we have something like a quota? Not to overflow a small instance?
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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
@Mastodon This is lovely, thank you so much!

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@sebzuen Dankeschön für die lieben Worte
️ Wir werden uns bemühen sie von mastodon.social auf eine andere Instanz zu bekommen!
Wir können uns da alternativ zu unserer eigenen Instanz aber auch ganz gut eine Instanz des Landes RLP oder auch der Stadt selbst vorstellen.
@mainz_sozial_digital
Ich könnte mir auch gut vorstellen, dass ihr die Instanz betreibt/moderiert und die Stadt Mainz euch lieb fördert🫢 -
@WestLawns@mastodon.social @Mastodon@mastodon.social its so Poles can get recommended Polish instances, Germans German instances etc etc
@tragivictoria @WestLawns @Mastodon I prefer to forget about borders at least here.
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The Default Server Recommendations experiment is a first step in reimagining how Mastodon onboarding & server discovery work.
Our team’s intent is to work with the community to build new onboarding pathways that support the entire network.
We can’t wait to get started

6/6
@Mastodon I’d be interested if it didn’t require open reg. Reality is, opening up registration creates a massive headache. I’d like to see us get a trial signup mode where someone can join still use the service but be in a read only state until approved. Would solve the drop off problem registration reasons cause.
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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
@Mastodon Very good. Sometimes one got the impression that Fediverse was finished, but it reads as if we have started something whose future is yet to come.
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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 plans4/6
@Mastodon does "open sign-up" include required approval for sign-ups as well?
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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
@Mastodon
just remember that "the correct language" is just a guess and may be wrong. Plus, for many users there may be 2, 3, or more "correct languages". -
@Mastodon It sounds really good, especially to avoid overcrowd Mastodon official servers and strengthen the Fediverse philosophy!
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.
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@Mastodon
Cool that you crowdsource.
But no need to use g forms and then apologize for it.
I like to use https://framaforms.org/@sebzuen @Mastodon
Not heard of Framaforms. I was going to suggest using https://cryptpad.fr/ which also has a forms offering. -
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
️ 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 -
️ 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@matt already done, thank you.
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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
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The Default Server Recommendations experiment is a first step in reimagining how Mastodon onboarding & server discovery work.
Our team’s intent is to work with the community to build new onboarding pathways that support the entire network.
We can’t wait to get started

6/6
@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!
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The Default Server Recommendations experiment is a first step in reimagining how Mastodon onboarding & server discovery work.
Our team’s intent is to work with the community to build new onboarding pathways that support the entire network.
We can’t wait to get started

6/6
@Mastodon@mastodon.social finally!
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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
Onboarding seems to be the barrier to Mastodon's growth and success. The whole Active ecosystem is a bit foreign to general users and needs more work.