Mastodon, a decentralized alternative to X, plans to target creators with new features
Source: TechCrunch
Mastodon, a decentralized, open‑source social media platform and alternative to larger apps like X and Threads, announced plans to make its app more approachable for newcomers while also targeting creators with new features.
Overview of the Initiative
The upcoming updates aim to simplify onboarding, promote smaller servers, and provide tools that help indie server operators manage maintenance and moderation more easily. The effort follows the expansion of Mastodon’s core development team over the past 18 months, which now includes experts in web, mobile, backend, and a dedicated designer. Details are outlined in a recent blog post co‑authored by technical director Renaud Chaput and product designer Imani Joy.
Current User Base
- Monthly active users: ≈ 750 k – 1 M (estimates vary).
- Third‑party tracker: ~750 k Source
- Alternative estimate: up to 1 M Source
- Mastodon’s own site: ~785 k Source
Onboarding Improvements
- Clearer guidance for selecting a server during sign‑up, reducing confusion around the extra step required by the decentralized model.
- Emphasis on encouraging users to join smaller, community‑focused servers rather than defaulting to the largest ones.
New Admin Tools
- External blocklists integration for easier moderation.
- Content‑scanning options to detect illegal material and spam.
- Media‑storage optimisation by serving remote media through a trusted third‑party provider.
Features for Creators
- Redesigned user profiles that showcase creators’ work.
- Enhanced compose experience for richer posts.
- Email notification option allowing non‑Mastodon users to follow updates, useful for newsletters, journalists, and public figures.
Recent Feature Rollouts
- Quote Posts – similar to X’s quoting feature but with additional user controls. Read more
- Collections – Mastodon’s take on “Starter Packs” for user recommendations. Read more
Leadership Changes
- Founder Eugen Rochko stepped down as CEO after the platform’s transition to a nonprofit structure earlier this year. Details
- Felix Hlatky (Austria) assumed the role of Executive Director.
- Dr. Marius Rothermund, a certified German lawyer, now shares executive duties, focusing on legal aspects of the restructuring across the U.S., Germany, and Belgium. Announcement
All links and references are retained from the original article.