Emily M. BenderNov 2, 2022
Ted

On an algorithmic platform, the more attention a post gets, the more it’s likely to reach other folks. That’s not true here! But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t favorite posts! Here’s a good way to think about it

Favorite - “I liked this post! Thanks for sharing it!” Hit that star to let the creator know you enjoyed the topic, are digging the conversation, or just think they’re neat! This is super low impact and low effort, and has no consequences, but is a nice way to thank the person who wrote the thing!

Boost - “More folks should see this!” Boosting a post puts it onto the Home Timelines of folks who follow you. This is really powerful here because it is the only way to get content seen on instances that don’t already federate with the source. Here on the fediverse, we are the collective curators and surfacers, so use Boosts liberally for things you enjoyed, things that folks need to hear, and to help folks who need visibility and support #fediTips

Oct 29, 2022 at 1:09amWeb
Show threadAceyOct 29, 2022
@esdin Wow thank you for the heads up! I'm really enjoying the content my followers are boosting! ☺️
Show threadTedOct 29, 2022
@Angel_Ace Bingo! Each of us are individually (and collectively!) the curators of posts here, so being a good booster is a great way to help spread visibility and give YOUR followers new folks to connect with!
Show threadameliaOct 29, 2022
@esdin is boost the like retweet button
Show threadPhil RoodNov 1, 2022
@esdin thanks for clarifying. I’m new here and trying to figure out how everything works
Show threadIngemoerenhoutNov 2, 2022
@esdin how do you boost something?
Show threadOkraMonkNov 2, 2022
@Ingemoerenhout @esdin use this button:
Show threadlarryfeltonjNov 2, 2022
@esdin Thanks for this! I was going to dig into the documentation to discover how those work, but that's a clear description.
Show threadOkraMonkNov 2, 2022
@esdin you can also use the favorite button as a kind of bookmark. I believe you can see the posts you favorited in a separate thread, so favoriting a post is one way to save it for yourself in case you want to take another look later.
Show threadTedNov 3, 2022
@OkraMonk there is also a bookmark tool!
Show threadLuka Prin/ce LucijaNov 2, 2022
@esdin this is very well explained. Good one, thanks! I faved and boosted! :)
Show threadEsme CiredutempsNov 2, 2022
@esdin how do you boost ?
Show threadEsme CiredutempsNov 2, 2022
@esdin j'ai rien compris
Show threadTedNov 3, 2022
@ciredutempsEsme
Show threadEsme CiredutempsNov 2, 2022
@esdin @seleniteLeLa tu comprendras peut être
Show threadVicki ZieglerNov 2, 2022
@esdin Good distinction - thanks.
Show threadVicki ZieglerNov 2, 2022
@esdin Good clarification - thanks.
Show threadJason123santaNov 2, 2022
@esdin I think of favorites as a way to say you seen the post and you like it but you have nothing to comment. The same thing could be said for comments when your talking with someone
Show threadAdaNov 2, 2022
@esdin Honestly, I don't even see favourites. I turned notifications off for them
Show threadAlex HannaNov 2, 2022
@esdin I'm feeling like this is getting back at the true nature of the favorite, before Twitter made it an metric of engagement to be gamed.
Show threadrhcmutsNov 3, 2022
@esdin important to know is that 'boosting' is a different word for 'reblog' (should it be called #retooting?) -- some apps show it as reblogging, the web UI shows it as 'boost'
Show threadLuísNov 3, 2022
@esdin I see this claim that there's no algorithm and that likes have no influence, but the official Mastodon app on Android does have a tab that lists posts in some sort of non-chronological order. Are you familiar with that feature?
Show threadTedNov 3, 2022
@mandelbrota I’m not seeing what you’re talking about in the iOS app. Maybe they don’t have parity though
Show threadLuísNov 3, 2022
@esdin I think it's the same list that shows up in /web/explore. Do you know what's going on there?
Show threadLuísNov 3, 2022
@esdin people have pointed me to https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/pull/17123 which introduced /web/explore. There's some sort of algorithm that takes into account time and number of interactions, which presumably includes "Favorites".
Add explore page to web UI by Gargron · Pull Request #17123 · mastodon/mastodon

The explore page allows browsing trending statuses (#17431), trending links (#16917), trending hashtags, and follow recommendations. Furthermore, on mobile, the explore page provides the search for...

GitHub
Show threadJason GreenNov 3, 2022
@esdin @mandelbrota The iOS has fewer features than the web app. For example you can’t see local and federated timelines in the iOS app. I think this was done purposefully in the official app to make it simpler for those who are used to Twitter
Show threadLuísNov 3, 2022
@jasongreen @esdin that's only partially true, AFAIK. The local timeline is available under Search > Community.
Show threadJason GreenNov 4, 2022
@mandelbrota @esdin Thanks I didn’t realize that. It’s sometimes hard to figure out how the iOS app relabels things.
Show threadIris Young (he/they/she) (PhD)Nov 3, 2022
@esdin Thanks for the primer. Are favorites and boosts ephemeral (or should I act as if they are), as opposed to bookmarks that I would want to revisit? But all three are public and technically persistent, right?
Show threadIris Young (he/they/she) (PhD)Nov 3, 2022
@esdin also -- if I reply to you and we're on different servers, where does my reply "live" and where is it visible?
Show threadTedNov 3, 2022

@irisvirus the origin server “owns” it, but I’m not sure on the exact storage schema for non Federated posts!

Federated content is cached by all remote instances.

Show threadTagomagoNov 3, 2022
@esdin I think now favs do count for trends, tho. This helps the post showing up on the Explore tab, thus getting the chance to reach more audience too.
Show threadTedNov 3, 2022
@tagomago Ah, I’ll have to check on that! Thought in the source that trends were purely by volume of tag usage (as seen by your instance)
Show threadTagomagoNov 3, 2022
@esdin Not quite sure myself either, I guess it's documented somewhere. In any case, many of the posts on Explore have no tags in them, so it must be boosts, favs, replies... Or all of them together. 🤔
Show threadphraserNov 3, 2022
@esdin I'm too conditioned by the bird site not to keep liking compulsively so I'm glad it's just taken as polite
Show threadJustin PotNov 3, 2022
@esdin Tips like this are really useful for me as I unlearn hellsite habits so thank you!
Show threadSummer loves masksNov 4, 2022
@esdin thank youuuuu for explaining the favorite function use. I've been *not* starring things because I wasn't sure what it did!
Show threadWill RossNov 8, 2022
@esdin Thank you. I'm interested to see how the boosted herd compares with the algorithmic flock.
Show threadPMscenarios Nov 12, 2022
@esdin I don't understand, why are these not showing up on the local timeline?
Show threadTedNov 12, 2022
@PMscenarios Because I'm reboosting some of my "Tips" from last week, that ended up in the "Welcome Guide"
Show threadPMscenarios Nov 12, 2022
@esdin but the screenshot of the users didn't either ​
Show threadTedNov 12, 2022
@PMscenarios oh thst one I posted as Unlisted. I put a lot of posts as unlisted because otherwise I'd spam the local timeline to hell and back 😅​
Show threadPMscenarios Nov 12, 2022

@esdin isn't that what being an owner is all about ​

(how will they remember you're the admin if you don't constantly hang out ^^)

Show threadRuth NinekeNov 12, 2022
@esdin
Show threadlaurentheticalNov 12, 2022
@esdin this is how I always used Twitter?
Show threadTedNov 12, 2022
@ren hey groovy! The one difference is Favorites on Twitter help increase the chance of stuff getting seen by other people, whereas here if you like something it doesn’t go anywhere else
Show threadAndrew JonesNov 14, 2022

@esdin may I ask a question. I’m pretty sure I’m seeing posts multiple times. Presumably because more than one of the people I follow have boosted the post?

I’m using the official iOS app. Are there any apps that don’t display the same post more than once?

Show threadTedNov 14, 2022
@AndrewJones There's this setting, but it only works for boosts that are done relatively close together
Show threadTedNov 14, 2022

@AndrewJones Also, you should consider checking out one of the third party apps for iOS, like Metatext, Tooot, or Toot!

They have some better parity with the full features of Mastodon! For example, the official app hides the "Local" timeline under Search > Community, and doesn't show the "Federated" feed at all!

Show threadAndrew JonesNov 14, 2022
@esdin thanks, I had that setting on but still see the occasional duplicate…presumably because the “recent” limit had been exceeded.
Show threadLimbeckx 👾Nov 14, 2022
@esdin I just boosted and favorited. Since its a: I like this post, thanks for sharing and a: More folks should see this....