The long-awaited Mastodon vs Twitter comparison has here! Why do Twitter users migrate to Mastodon? First and foremost, Elon Musk is not present! Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, many users began to explore other options. Is this the only explanation? Obviously not. Continue reading to learn about the differences between Mastodon vs Twitter.
Mastodon vs Twitter: Why people are switching over?
The Mastodon social media network has grown dramatically since Elon Musk took over Twitter, but it remains a tiny community with a difficult-to-use design and limited resources. However, for users who are sick of Twitter’s instability, these shortcomings might be advantages rather than disadvantages. Let’s delve a little deeper. It is critical that the groups set the norms rather than a censorship-wielding central authority. Mastodon may also be beneficial to specialists. If you’re interested in a certain topic, such as birdwatching or extinct species, Mastodon is the place to be.
Mastodon, unlike Twitter, does not have an app. With the help of this free, open-source software, users can create their own social networks. Remember that it is plural because, once again, there are multiple social networks, as opposed to Twitter. Are you new to the Mastodon jargon? Let’s refresh our memories about Mastodon.
What is Mastodon?
Mastodon appears to be a carbon replica of Twitter at first look. Many of the functionalities of the microblogging social networking site are similar to those of Twitter, such as the ability to mention other accounts, publish content that is only accessible to followers, and post content that is public to everyone. It also enables the distribution of surveys, movies, and other forms of multimedia material.
However, the platform differs significantly from Twitter in one essential way: it is a decentralized network, giving groups considerably greater flexibility to construct their own tiny corners of the internet and control them however they see fit.
How to use Mastodon?
- Get the app or use the website
- Choose a server
- Find people
- Set up your profile
- Post
Mastodon vs Twitter: What is different?
First and foremost, how many people use Mastodon? When comparing the user bases of the two platforms, there are major variances. Twitter has 238 million users, whereas Mastodon has 5.6 million. There is a spoiler in this sentence. Twitter will continue to reign supreme in terms of user interaction and general “what’s trending?” platforms. However, Mastodon is now Twitter’s most significant rival. So, what distinguishes Mastodon from Twitter?
Is Mastodon similar to Twitter?
Mastodon’s decentralized nature is the starting point for the Mastodon versus Twitter comparison. That is, anyone may create and host their own social network. This is the major reason why it appeals to so many users. Other characteristics that distinguish Mastodon are:
- Decentralized
- Retweets to boosts
- Instances (Servers)
- Mastodon isn’t profit motivated
- Community
- Hard to use because of more options available
- Favorite vs like
- Open-source
- Fediverse (Federated)
- Limited to 500 characters
- Toot instead of a tweet
- Moderation
Decentralized
Mastodon supporters argue that its decentralized strategy distinguishes it. Users can use their own provider or even run their own Mastodon instance instead of Twitter’s centralized service, much as they can send emails using Gmail, an employer-provided account, or their own e-mail server. No group or individual has the ability to take over the entire system or put it to a halt.
Retweets to boosts
Instead of retweets, Mastodon uses “boosts.” Except for the lack of the ability to attach your own comment, boosts are nearly identical to retweets.
Instances (Servers)
When you sign up for Mastodon, you do not become a member of it. Instead, you register for a specific server (known as an “instance”). Despite minor differences in their descriptions, each instance incorporates criteria that clearly define what is and is not an appropriate activity.
Mastodon isn’t profit motivated
Twitter is a firm that makes money through advertising. They need to keep you on Twitter as long as possible in order to maximize ad income, therefore they must make their material as entertaining as possible. Mastodon has never been driven by monetary gain. Mastodon is a small open-source project that is funded at the top by Patreon. Mastodon does not strive towards centralization. As a result, it can afford to remain tiny.
Community
Mastodon has a large and rapidly growing community.
Hard to use because of more options available
Nothing is flawless. Understanding the fediverse structure is difficult at first because there are more options than on Twitter or other centralized social networks. Mastodon’s sprawling anarchy makes it more difficult to find people to follow than the tidy town squares provided by centrally managed Twitter or Facebook.
Favorite vs like
Mastodon’s user interface is similar to Twitter’s. However, you may “favorite” a post on Mastodon instead of “liking” it by clicking the star icon next to its content.
Open-source
If you wish to run your own Mastodon instance or contribute to its development, you’ll be delighted to hear that Mastodon is open-source. Its source code is available as a Git repository and is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3. The application includes a social network server that links to other servers all around the world through the ActivityPub protocol. Mastodon is free to download, modify, and install on any server; the platform’s authors have no copyright. Mastodon’s open-source mindset, according to a Mastodon review, is an excellent model to emulate.
Fediverse (Federated)
Mastodon is a network of websites distributed throughout the globe that interacts with one another. Unlike other social networks, Mastodon and related ActivityPub sites are owned by anybody who runs a server; this federated network is known as the “fediverse.”
Limited to 500 characters
Mastodon postings can contain text, photos, and videos, although they are restricted to 500 characters rather than 280.
Toot instead of a tweet
When Mastodon users post, it is referred to as a toot rather than a tweet.
Moderation
Because each server administrator establishes its own regulations, you should examine the moderation policy for the server you choose to ensure it corresponds with your beliefs.
Mastodon vs Twitter: Mobile apps
Mastodon and Twitter are cross-platform services that provide online applications that function in any browser as well as apps for iPhone and Android devices. A Home tab displays the following accounts, a Search tab provides trending news, hashtags, and posts, and a Notifications page. Notifications for responses, likes, followers, and other notable happenings are shown on the website.
The user’s posts, responses, media, and customisable About section, as well as the user’s name and cover photo, are all included in the user profile. Everyone who uses Twitter will feel at ease when using the app.
Mastodon servers
There is no single “great” server that controls them all. However, you may double-check them:
- mastodon.online (General)
- mas.to (General)
- mstdn.social (General)
Check the best Mastodon server list to find more options.
Who owns Mastodon?
Mastodon was founded by Eugen Rochko.
Who is Eugen Rochko?
Eugen Rochko, a German software engineer, is best known as the creator of the decentralized federated social network platform Mastodon, which features “strict anti-abuse and anti-discrimination regulations.”
Is Mastodon better than Twitter?
It is determined by the user’s choices. Mastodon, on the other hand, is worth a shot. Even if moving from Twitter is distasteful, it’s simple to keep the app on the phone and check in on occasion to see what’s new and exciting in the unique approach to social networking.
How to join Mastodon?
On the Mastodon website, clicking the “create account” button will lead you to a screen with a variety of servers to choose from. These may be filtered in a variety of ways, including by location, language, subject, sign-up speed, and other factors. Find a server that intrigues you and join it; you may have to wait a few moments if it requires permission. You may then begin browsing for other people to follow, regardless of whether they enrolled on the same server as you.
We hope that you enjoyed this article on Mastodon vs Twitter: Which social media site is better? (2022). If you did, we are sure that you will also enjoy reading some of our other articles, such as Active Mastodon relays: How to add a relay to your instance, or Mastodon server requirements: How to run your own server on the platform.
