Twitter is vs. Mastodon: Which Platform to Choose (plus a more suitable alternative) |
Twitter was founded in 2006 and over the decades that followed it twittering its way into minds and the hearts of more than 400 million of its users. Twitter was made up of text-based, short posts that were compiled in "tweets." People who have been long-time users of the service will be able to recall the controversy that ensued when tweets grew beyond the 140 characters limit to 280 characters and the short outrage that followed.
In the wake of Elon Musk's $40 billion Twitter acquisition of the company in the month of October 2022, a lot of people have been fleeing Twitter. There are those who don't like Musk himself, whether it's his political views or his leadership style. Some people aren't buying into his vision of the company's platform.
Another of Twitter alternatives that has been making the rounds recently is Mastadon. In 2016, it was created to be an open-source and uncentralized social platform, Mastodon touts (or we might be saying "toots") itself as the best option for long-time Twitter users. With stars such as Kathy Griffin and Stephen Fry making the switch it's possible you're thinking that it's the right the right time to give it a go it too.
In this piece we'll discuss Twitter as opposed to. Mastodon. We'll show how the wooly mammoth is similar to the tiny blue bird. We'll also introduce a better option.
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In this post...
An alternative for both Twitter and Mastodon
Actual ownership = monetization
What exactly is Mastodon
Mastodon is a social network that's hosted on what users refer to the "fediverse" - that basically means that the network lives in separate servers that connect to one another. It has a sort like a social network that is local. The site was founded in the year 2016 by Eugen Rochko, Mastodon is a little like independent social networks that all speak the identical the same language.
But, if the individual server component of Mastadon is a source of anxiety, let's say this. Once you get past the individual hosting (ie. where your information lives) The user experience can be compared to Twitter, maybe with the addition of Discord thrown in. Instead of a "tweet" the user "toot." Instead than "liking," you "favorite" things. For those who've been long-time followers of Twitter are likely to recognize Mastodon as a sort of brand that is similar to Twitter however it has 500 characters.
Mastodon allows you to create your own account. You are able to add a profile photo, a link to your site, or other options that users can include in their Twitter Bio. As with Twitter it also gives you the number of followers and the people who follow you. You are able to reply, increase (AKA "retweet"), star (favorite) an item, or bookmark toots.
Cons and Pros of Mastadon
Pros
- Mastadon has the same feel as Twitter. Its user interface is likely to be similar and allow you to set up your account set up quickly. Making posts, uploading images and videos, and even polls, feel similar to Twitter.
- It's also got interactive functions too. You can send direct messages to people, follow them and block them. You can also mention them with an @.
- Its decentralised look gives you MORE options than Twitter to build something similar to an area, or a dedicated server where users interested in a specific topic can come together.
- There are no ads available on Mastodon. There are people who have created servers by paying out of pocket or with crowdfunding. It has its own problems to it, which we'll talk about in the future however it's a nice thing in principle.
- The operating code for Mastodon is open source. It's generally an excellent thing as people can take it on and use it to tailor their own discussions. In addition to the Mastodon official apps, people have utilized Mastodon's open source code to develop their own social applications.
- You aren't limited to users on your personal server. You can follow people on the same platform, regardless of which the server that they are on. It is also possible to mark servers as open for joining or invite potential members to invite to join.
Cons
- There's no algorithm. Posts are displayed according to the order in which they were posted. It sounds good at first but it actually hinders the usability of the platform.
- There is a cost to paying. It's nice not to have ads on Mastodon, but there could be a catch. Growing your followers on a server means someone must pay, either you pay yourself, or you'll operate on a server which someone is paying for. It's great when it lasts for long, but when someone thinks it's not worthwhile to spend their money for the server it could disappear.
- Mastodon is complicated to setup for those who want to create an own YouTube channel. You need to figure out the best way to manage the hosting yourself and set up security protocols. If you're not a programmer then you'll probably have to hire one.
- There are a lot of security concerns with the way this platform is organized. Requiring people to "apply" to a server can help a bit but so too could the "block" options. But there's no real moderation and anyone can be seen by everyone, regardless of the server on which they're. Since it's a grassroots community and there's no one to attempt to change the way things are done when it inevitably gets taken over by bots and Trolls.
- There's not a way to make money from Mastodon. Not only that, it's free. The person hosting the network has to pay for it and there's no advertising. In the moment the network is funded by donations, which raises grave concern about the long-term viability of these networks.
- It's an open-source and distributed community engine. Open source is good because people can edit and fix issues, but it can also be a liability and has created controversial networks like Gab.
An alternative to both Twitter and Mastodon
In terms of a Twitter alternative, Mastodon can do many of the same aspects. However, it's more difficult to utilize, requires self-hosting to create a server, and , frankly speaking, doesn't have a lot of the good functions Twitter has. It's easy to dismiss the algorithm. However, in a social media platform like Facebook, the algorithm helps you find content that you'd like to view. If your feed becomes a never-ending and unorganized information dump, it makes it tough to have conversations and to build community. One could imagine Mastodon as a kind of forum but it's just not as effective in the same way as reddit which has up-voting and down-voting so that people are seeing relevant material.
We'll talk about an alternative. Mighty is a software platform for culture that works to build vibrant communities. While Twitter is a massive social media platform and Mastodon is a vast number of servers, Mighty lets you build a dedicated community full of people who have similar views and objectives.
Here are a few motives to create the Mighty Network instead.
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Real usability
In contrast, Mastodon needs coding and hosting to be able to create an individual server. Mastodon Mastodon gives you an impressive community out of the box. Everyone can create an, expand, and create a thriving community that blows Twitter and Mastodon over the head with its powerful community features.
Real content features
280 characters? 500? Why bother? The Mighty Network gives you actual feature-rich content. Make posts as you like you, or write long-length articles (blog articles). Create polls, discussions, organize discussions, live stream as well as add events and build classes. Mighty is a community platform that was created to make community work and bring groups of strangers together , and assist them become life-long friends.
Spaces are not servers
In contrast to Mastodon, where users live on servers and can connect through the network, a Mighty Network is an enclosed community. Instead of having to connect multiple servers, conversations and events can be arranged through spaces instead. Each space provides you with the opportunity to offer access to events, host them or add content, join a group chat, or even try live streaming and classes.
Actual ownership = monetization
If you've done the work to build an online community, and now you're looking to generate revenue from it, then there's nothing wrong with that. So instead of worrying about whether your platform has ads or not, as Mastodon is - why don't you just build on the platform that can help you transform your community into a profitable company?
has payments built-in, making it simple to charge users with a monthly or one-time fee for access (or keep it free in the event you want to keep it free). Some hosts also monetize free communities with paid live events. They charge access to premium areas or even offering a course. The sky is the limit but you're not able to do any of this on either Twitter as well as Mastodon.
Securer
The Mighty Network gives you way more options for safety and moderating. It has the same possibilities as Mastodon in allowing users to ask for access or even apply to join. Moderators can manage content as well as recruit other hosts to be moderators. Because users are part of an individual community rather than the entire network, you'll feel comfortable in the privacy of the privacy of your own Network.
Access and apps
The app is great for all devices. However, with Mighty Pro it is possible to also get a custom-built, brand-named app which gives users a Mighty Network completely under your own brand. We do the building and support for the long-term. Schedule a call with us to find out more.
Ready to start?
If you're looking for an alternative to Twitter as well as Mastodon G2, the software review site G2 ranks as the #1 most rated platform for community. With Mighty G2, you'll get a powerful community engine to gather people to have great conversations. But add in the options like courses, events, and monetization, you've got everything to build your own powerful social community.
Why not give it a try? The trial is cost-free for 14 days and we'll never ask for the credit card details of your. Your personal social media network up and operating in just 20 minutes. No programming needed.
Ready to start building your community?