Mastodon
by Mastodon gGmbH
Quick Fact
Mastodon is part of the “Fediverse”—a federation of interoperable platforms where users can follow, post, and interact across servers without giving control to a central authority.
A Decentralized Alternative to Twitter
Mastodon is a federated social media protocol that enables people to post short messages ("toots"), follow others, and build communities—without centralized control. Each server (or “instance”) operates independently, enforcing its own moderation rules and policies while being able to communicate with others across the network.
Federated Architecture and Open Standards
Built on the ActivityPub protocol, Mastodon enables cross-platform communication between users on different instances. This allows for a pluralistic, censorship-resistant experience where no single entity can dictate content or visibility. Users can create their own servers, join public instances, or build community-focused networks with specific cultures or values.
Privacy, Moderation, and Community Control
Mastodon puts control into the hands of both users and administrators. Each instance can set its own moderation policies, limit discoverability, and manage privacy settings for posts. Unlike centralized platforms, Mastodon doesn't monetize user data or inject algorithmic feeds. Its timeline is chronological, transparent, and free from engagement manipulation.