A beginner’s guide to Mastodon, the open source Twitter alternative

Unless you closely follow emerging social platforms, chances are you haven't heard of Mastodon until Elon Musk acquired Twitter and later rebranded it as X. Following the takeover, uncertainty about Twitter's future prompted millions of users to explore alternatives, with many choosing Mastodon as a microblogging service.

Over time, users also experimented with platforms such as Bluesky and Instagram's Threads. But Mastodon launched in 2016 and had already spent years developing its own culture and identity beyond simply being a Twitter replacement.

What is Mastodon?

Mastodon was created in 2016 by German software developer Eugen Rochko. Unlike major platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or Reddit, Mastodon is a nonprofit, meaning its primary mission is to serve the public rather than shareholders.

While Mastodon and Twitter at first glance appear similar, their underlying structures are significantly different. The platform is decentralized—not in a blockchain sense—and describes itself as a "federated network" that operates similarly to email.

When you sign up, you choose a server, much like selecting an email provider such as Gmail or Yahoo. That server determines your account address. For example, registering on a climate justice–focused server might give you a username like @[yourname]@climatejustice.social. Regardless of which server you choose, you can still interact with users on other servers, similar to how Gmail users can email Hotmail users. However, some servers block others, which can limit communication across those boundaries.

The Mastodon lingo

Mastodon communities are typically referred to as "instances" or servers. These servers can be operated by individuals, groups, or organizations, each with its own sign-up rules and moderation standards. Some are open to anyone, while others require invitations or administrator approval. For instance, a server dedicated to professional scientists may request proof of academic or research credentials.

Although choosing a server might feel intimidating, accounts can be migrated later. You can also follow users on any server, regardless of where your account is hosted.

Mastodon is also part of the "Fediverse," an interconnected ecosystem of decentralized social platforms. Through this system, a Mastodon account can interact with other Fediverse services, offering broader social networking possibilities.

Posts on Mastodon are commonly called "toots," though the term has largely fallen out of favour; users now refer to them as posts. However, older apps and documentation may still use the original terminology.

Mastodon supports familiar social features such as replies, reposts, favourites, bookmarks, and hashtags. For years, the platform avoided a quote-post feature due to concerns about harassment and dogpiling, but it eventually introduced this functionality in 2025.

Lists function somewhat differently than on Twitter, as you can only add users you already follow. Direct messages are not truly private; they are sent to specific users with restricted visibility settings.

What does it mean that Mastodonsn" is a source?

Mastodon's code is publicly available, allowing anyone to download, modify, and run the software on their own server. The platform itself does not hold exclusive copyright ownership as traditional social networks do.

That said, the open-source license still requires proper attribution. Truth Social, launched by former U.S. President Donald Trump, initially used Mastodon without appropriate acknowledgement, which led to a public dispute and subsequent compliance.

How do you create a Mastodon account?

On Mastodon's website, click "create account" to open a directory of available servers. These can be filtered by region, language, topic, and other criteria. After selecting a server, you can register — though some servers require approval before access is granted.

To simplify onboarding during the surge of interest following Twitter's upheaval, MastodoMastodon introduced a streamlined option that lets users quickly create an account without manually selecting a server.

How do you decide which Mastodon server to join?

Mastodon provides guidance on its website, but the process can still feel overwhelming. Many users rely on recommendations from friends or join a random server, knowing they can relocate their account later once they become more familiar with the platform.

Can you talk to people on other Mastodon servers?

Yes. Users can follow and interact with accounts hosted on different servers. However, to follow someone on another server, you must search for their full username within your own server's search function before following them.

What's the difference between the Home, Local, and Federated timelines?

The Home timeline displays posts from accounts you follow. The Local timeline shows posts from everyone on your server. The Federated timeline aggregates public posts from servers connected to yours. For users feeling overwhelmed, Mastodon features such as "Slow Mode" reduce the pace of updates.

What is MastodoMastodon's policy?

Moderation is handled at the server level. Each server sets its own rules and enforcement practices, making it essential to review a server's policies before joining.

What are the drawbacks of Mastodon compared to Twitter/X/X/X/X?

Mastodon's user base is significantly smaller than Twitter's, and its interface can feel less intuitive. It was not initially designed for a massive global audience, though this may evolve as development continues.

What are the benefits of Mastodon with Twitter/X?

Mastodon is not owned by Elon Musk, which appeals to some users. Its community-based moderation and customizable environments allow for varied user experiences. While conversations may reach fewer people, interactions can feel more personal and focused.

Is Mastodonto on Twitter?

Safety largely depends on the server you choose. Mastodon's design allows users to join communities with stricter moderation, and certain features — such as hashtag-only search — help reduce unwanted exposure. Users can still search their own activity, including posts and interactions.

Can I post images and videos?

Mastodon supports images, videos, audio, and polls, though its media features are more limited than Twitter's. Posts can include up to four images (with size limits), while video and audio uploads are capped at 40 MB each.

Can I post privately to friends?

Yes. Posts can be set as public, unlisted, followers-only, or visible only to mentioned users.

Can I get verified on Mastodon? Mastodon is a decentralized verification system. Some servers vet users, and individuals can self-verify by linking external sites to their profiles using specific metadata. Certain servers also allow decorative checkmarks or emojis for fun, though these carry no official meaning.

Is Mastodono staying?

As of summer 2025, MastodoMastodon has more than one million monthly active users and roughly 10 million registered accounts, making it far smaller than X. Still, its niche communities and decentralized structure appeal to users seeking a different social experience.

Can I cross-post from X to Mastodon?

Yes. Third-party tools enable cross-posting between platforms. Options include Moa Party and Mastodon Twitter Crossposter, among others.

Can I find my Twitter friends on Mastodon? Third-party services help users locate their Twitter contacts on Mastodon, including Fedifinder, Twitodon, and Debirdify.

Does MastodoMastodonith Bluesky and Threads?

Mastodon does not currently interoperate with Bluesky, which uses its own protocol rather than ActivityPub. Threads, however, supports ActivityPub, allowing users to share posts with Mastodon and other Fediverse platforms if they enable that option.

Bluesky’s mission is to drive the evolution from platforms to protocols. The tools for public conversation should exist outside of private companies as common infrastructure, like the Internet itself. — Bluesky (@bluesky) April 6, 2022

Ultimately, Mastodon is a distinct social media platform—one that may appeal to users seeking smaller communities, stronger moderation, and a decentralized approach to online conversation.