Thread
Here is a thread to help discoverability on Mastodon.
I have been using it for a week and I like it so far. It can be difficult to find people / topics on it, so here are some ideas gathered in one place that might help you.
My username is @bogiperson@wandering.shop
I have been using it for a week and I like it so far. It can be difficult to find people / topics on it, so here are some ideas gathered in one place that might help you.
My username is @bogiperson@wandering.shop
First, there is no full text search (on most instances, I think). This is deliberate.
This also means you need to use hashtags more than on twitter. Hashtags are searchable. Try to add a few to posts, the character count is larger so it fits.
This also means you need to use hashtags more than on twitter. Hashtags are searchable. Try to add a few to posts, the character count is larger so it fits.
There are groups which you can add to your post, and it sends your post to everyone who follows the group.
Books in general: @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
Trans books: @transbookstodon@a.gup.pe
Lesbian books: @lesfic@a.gup.pe
Make sure to untag it from responses so as not to crowd it.
Books in general: @bookstodon@a.gup.pe
Trans books: @transbookstodon@a.gup.pe
Lesbian books: @lesfic@a.gup.pe
Make sure to untag it from responses so as not to crowd it.
#Introduction is a popular hashtag right now, please hashtag your intro.
Your bio can be longer than on twitter. You can also put hashtags in there too.
Your bio can be longer than on twitter. You can also put hashtags in there too.
There are a lot of specific-interest spreadsheets to find people across instances who have that interest.
Linguists: etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/mastodonlinguists
Scholars of religion: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePifeeWOinGtsLc9FyRBT-W6nkzJ84f9f_eQWioNaTY2OgfQ/viewform
Linguists: etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/mastodonlinguists
Scholars of religion: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePifeeWOinGtsLc9FyRBT-W6nkzJ84f9f_eQWioNaTY2OgfQ/viewform
Here I should probably say that by far the most (justified, AFAICT) complaints I hear about instances are about academic / scholarly instances (especially the "polite" kind of racism).
So idk maybe just join a different one and find a list for your specialty to supplement it.
So idk maybe just join a different one and find a list for your specialty to supplement it.
You will find people through people you already follow boosting (= RTing) them. So discovery is not as terrible as I thought it would be!
There is also this tool to find your Twitter followers but also your blocks!:
pruvisto.org/debirdify/
There is also this tool to find your Twitter followers but also your blocks!:
pruvisto.org/debirdify/
If you put your Mastodon username into your Twitter user description (what is it called? I feel like it is called something else), that helps with these tools that do automated discovery.
One big difference for me (and I asked other people too who've been on Mastodon longer) is that if you are on an instance with reasonable moderation, you won't see the endless antisemitism that increasingly characterizes Twitter. It exists but is siloed away from you.
(You have to note that I also do social media for a Jewish press, so I need to be aware of Jewish news. I feel there is now so much hashtag clogging by trolls at this point that it has been just increasingly hard to find the actual Jewish news buried under it... emotionally too)
Your experience on Mastodon really depends on the moderation of your instance, this is different from twitter.
And now a lot of them are closed because everyone is trying to sign up.
Also there is a server update that dropped *today*
And now a lot of them are closed because everyone is trying to sign up.
Also there is a server update that dropped *today*
But I do think it is possible to sign up and find a nice instance.
I would be cautious about jumping in at the deep end and starting out with hosting an instance. Simply because if moderation is not done right, your users will suffer.
I would be cautious about jumping in at the deep end and starting out with hosting an instance. Simply because if moderation is not done right, your users will suffer.
Also instances can have their own rules, like which types of content to put behind a content notice and which not, etc.
Generally the content warning is more of... like LJ-cut? It can also be used just to put larger amounts of text behind it, or as a headline.
Generally the content warning is more of... like LJ-cut? It can also be used just to put larger amounts of text behind it, or as a headline.
Not really a discoverability thing, but many instances suggest making the non-first tweets in threads unlisted, so as not to have your thread taking over the local feed.
There is both a local feed and a larger federated feed of people followed by people on your instance.
There is both a local feed and a larger federated feed of people followed by people on your instance.
These are in addition to your own personal feed, that's separate.
It is possible to switch to "advanced" interface on the web which is multi-column.
It is possible to switch to "advanced" interface on the web which is multi-column.
Also a great way to find people is to look at the follower lists of people you follow. I re-found many of my Twitter mutuals that way, but also people I know from FB, listservs, etc.
Also judging from so many of you following me during this thread, I must say a good discoverability tactic is "Post on twitter while it's still up"
(YMMV but I've had trouble with Twitter the past few days, errors, stuff not loading.)
Will go offline a bit but see you soon IY"H
(YMMV but I've had trouble with Twitter the past few days, errors, stuff not loading.)
Will go offline a bit but see you soon IY"H
It is probably good for discoverability purposes to include that my Spouseperson @RB_Lemberg is also on Mastodon now: @rblemberg@wandering.shop (without the underscore!)
If you like my posts, you'll probably also like theirs!
If you like my posts, you'll probably also like theirs!
