Are you tired of being tracked, manipulated, and exploited by the big tech giants that run the most popular social media platforms? Do you wish you had more control over your own online presence, and more freedom to express yourself and connect with others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to check out Mastodon, a decentralized alternative to classic social media that puts you back in charge.
What is Mastodon and how does it work?
Mastodon is a free and open-source software that lets you create and join independent servers of social media, where you can follow and be followed from any other Mastodon server, and enjoy features like audio, video, picture posts, custom emojis and more. Mastodon respects your agency, privacy and creativity, and is not for sale to any corporation or middleman.
Unlike classic social media platforms that are owned and operated by a single company, Mastodon is made up of thousands of servers, or instances, that are run by different individuals and organizations. Each instance has its own rules, policies, and themes, and can choose to interact with other instances, forming a network of social media, known as the fediverse.
This means that you can choose an instance that suits your interests, preferences, and values, and join a community of like-minded people. You can also create your own instance, and invite your friends, family, or colleagues to join. This way, you can have your own private or public social media platform, with full control over its features, settings, and content.
What are the benefits of Mastodon?
Mastodon offers many advantages over classic social media platforms, such as:
Decentralization and open-source: Mastodon is not controlled by a single entity, but by a network of independent and diverse servers. This means that there is no central authority that can censor, manipulate, or exploit your data and activity.
Interoperability and federation: Mastodon can communicate with other platforms that use the same protocol, called ActivityPub. This means that you can follow and be followed by users from other compatible social media platforms. You can also switch between instances, and keep your followers and content.
User agency and data: Mastodon respects your choices and preferences, and does not impose any algorithms or ads on your timeline. You can decide what you want to see, and how you want to see it. You can also export and import your data, and delete your account at any time, without leaving any traces behind.
Diverse and creative expression: Mastodon supports a variety of media formats, such as audio, video, and pictures. You can also use custom emojis, and create your own, to spice up your posts.
How to install Mastodon on your own server?
One appealing feature is that you can install Mastodon on your own server, and have complete control and ownership over your social media platform. This way, you can customize it to your liking, and create your own rules and policies. You can also ensure that your data and activity are secure and private.
Installing Mastodon on your own server requires some technical skills and knowledge. You will need to have a domain name, a server, and a database, and follow some configuration steps to run Mastodon. You can find guides for doing so on the official Mastodon site and other websites.
However, if you do not want to install Mastodon yourself, you can use a hosting service that will do it for you, for a fee. This way, you can still enjoy the benefits of having your own instance, without the hassle of setting it up and maintaining it.
Conclusion
Mastodon offers more freedom, control, and creativity compared to corporate-owned social media platforms. It is made up of independent, interconnected servers catering to different communities and interests. You can also install Mastodon on your own server for full autonomy and customization. If you want an alternative to centralized social media giants, Mastodon is worth exploring.