In October year 2022 we are seeing how things changed rapidly when Elon Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion ($66 billion) and many users are looking for alternatives to Blue Bird Twitter app. In such a situation, at this time another social network named Mastodon is in the headlines. But remember Mastodon is not a new social platform but, it has only recently started topping the download charts around the world.
What is Mastodon, how to join using Mastodon Social Server, and is Mastodon an alternative to Twitter? You will find answers to all these questions in this article.
What is Mastodon Social Network (software)?
Mastodon was created and developed by a talented German software engineer developer name Eugen Rochko. It was first developed and launched in October 2016.
Mastodon allows each user to join the community of their choice, creating their own rules according to their interests.
Primarily Mastodon is free and open-source software for running self-hosted social networking services. It has microblogging features similar to the Twitter service, which is attracting a large number of users.
Its best feature is that because it is an open-source platform, anyone can set up a server and run a community similar to a forum or discussion board.
Who is Eugen Rochko, The Creator Of ‘Mastodon’, an Alternative to the Twitter app?
Eugen Rochko is Russian Born, a German Tech expert Of Jewish Descent.
Who is Eugen Rochko?
He is of Russian descent and a German tech expert of Jewish descent. Eugen Rochko is about 28/29 years old and he left for Germany from Moscow when he was 11. Rochko is fluent in Russian, French, Spanish, English, and Deutsch.
When Rochko Wrapped Up their Computer Science Degree he Created Mastodon. At the age of 26, he completed his CS degree from the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in Germany. And he immediately started building Mastodon.
Since he always had the vision to democratize social media, he launched Mastodon on open-source technologies and not on proprietary software.
An interesting tidbit about Eugen Rochko’s life is that he started working on Mastodon while he was still in his parents’ flat. This trivia was revealed in Mastodon’s annual report FY 2021.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Mastodon
| Mastodon (Software) | Facts and Details |
| Mastodon’s Initial release date | 16 March 2016 |
| Stable release | November 15, 2022 |
| Available in | Approx. 93 languages |
| License | AGPLv3+ |
| App Type | Microblogging |
| Available on Platforms | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Berkeley Software Distribution, Sailfish OS, macOS, |
| Programming language | JavaScript |
| Developer Name | Mastodon gGmbH, Eugen Rochko |
How Does Mastodon Work?
Users will need to create an account by visiting the Mastodon website on desktop or by downloading the app on an iOS or Android device. Then, you will be asked to select a server to sign up for.
• The first step in using the Mastodon app is choosing which server to create your account on. For this, you have to choose the server.
• For your information, let us tell you that Mastodon’s servers are grouped on the basis of subject and location.
• Each Mastodon server is operated by an independent organization or individual. Each one has its own rules and regulations as well.
• Users are encouraged to connect to servers based on policies they agree to and common interests when using Mastodon.
• So whether you are interested in online chat, gaming, bikes, even whatever else, there is a server for almost everyone.
Features that set Mastodon apart
• No central authority owns it.
• Not everyone can see what you post.
• It allows users up to 500 characters to express themselves.
• There’s thorough community content moderation.
Is Mastodon Social Safe For All Users?
Overall it is safe to use, however, the problem with Mastodon being decentralized is that each server has its own set of rules, which makes content moderation subjective to the administrators of that server. This means that your experience of interacting with the platform will vary depending on the server you choose as they do not all share the same code of conduct.
Obviously, Mastodon is not immune to the content moderation issues that plague all social media platforms. However, Mastodon may be more equipped to address such free speech issues. Many users have had a good experience when using it, with one user revealing “It was a very nice, very productive conversation that I’m very happy to have had.”
