HiroshimalilyNov 7, 2022
FediTips has moved!

Are you new to Mastodon? Do you need some help? Do you want a simple guide to how Mastodon works?

Check out my website, it answers lots and lots of questions you might have:

➡️ https://fedi.tips

It's written in non-technical language, and aimed at a general audience. If you're new here and feeling a bit lost, this is the site for you!

(There are also tips for advanced users in a separate section of the site.)

If you can't find the answers you want from the site, @ or message me 🙂

Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse

An unofficial guide to using Mastodon and the Fediverse

Nov 6, 2022 at 4:59pmWeb
Show threadDR. SURFERCHICNov 6, 2022
@feditips
Hi fedi.tips. how do you pin a toot such as a longer intro toot on your bio? If it's on your page, just lmk. Don't want you to have to do more work. I haven't figured it out yet. Just point me in the right direction. Many thanks.
Show threadJustJulzNov 7, 2022
@DrSurferChic @feditips Go to the Toot you want to pin, click the 3dots beside it & select “pin on profile” HTH
Show threadleastsurveilledNov 6, 2022
@feditips something I don’t understand yet is why the favorite button is not used nearly as much as the reblog button on most posts
Show threadleastsurveilledNov 6, 2022

@feditips I’m assuming it’s because reblogging accomplish the same thing that retweets and likes do on Twitter.

I realize I don’t see anyone else’s favorited posts on my timeline

Show threadDaniel SohlNov 6, 2022
@leastsurveilled @feditips As far as I can tell, the favorite button doesn’t do anything at all here. I mean, ok, it puts your stamp on the post that you liked it, but with no algorithm pushing the most-liked posts, there really isn’t any motivation to like stuff. It ends up being much more effective to either interact or boost instead.
Show threadleastsurveilledNov 6, 2022
@dcsohl @feditips It's definitely a paradigm shift, maximizing interaction instead of signalling what you like seems pretty neat though. It forces you to think about what you want others to see.
Show threadScott StarkeyNov 6, 2022
@feditips I'm a little flummoxed by lists - how to set them up and what are they for?
Show threadKathy StanfordNov 6, 2022
@ProbablyPsychic @feditips I would like to know that too. I just joined this morning. Haven’t figured it all out yet.
Show threadDaniel SohlNov 6, 2022
@ProbablyPsychic @feditips I would say that because everything here is strictly chronological (no algorithm pushing the most-liked or most controversial stuff), lists can be very useful to ensure you are seeing things from the people who matter. Make a friends list, make a political list, make a celebrity list, or whatever, and then you can check the lists that matter be sure you’ll be seeing the stuff that matters!

I’ll leave the “how” to somebody else as I don’t even use Mastodon.
Show threadSabhrina AnintaNov 6, 2022
@feditips There was one time I tried to follow an account and then there was a message saying "This action is not allowed". The account is not locked; I can see a lot of posts. What was happening there?
Show threadMarianne SmedingNov 6, 2022
@feditips Where I find the searchbox?
Show threadSusanLSNov 6, 2022
@feditips Thanks for your tips! I have an account on my I-pad but for some reason I can’t sign in on my IPhone , any tips?
Show threadUr Ya'arNov 6, 2022
@feditips
Thanks for this! Can you plz explain what are "Lists" and how to use them?
Show threadtelzeyNov 6, 2022
@feditips this has been really informative. I've figured some things out but there's still a lot I'm learning. Thank you for doing this.
Show threadHtaggertNov 6, 2022
@feditips I have a dumb question. Really hard to post anything with a photo. Help.
Show threadLaura KosloffNov 6, 2022
@Htaggert click on the paper clip, it's for files and photos.
Show threadHtaggertNov 6, 2022
@legallaurak ooooh going to try this now.
Show threadLaura KosloffNov 7, 2022
@Htaggert and now I feel like a fediverse expert, I was able to give someone good info!! 😉
Show thread🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿LadyMuck@StoorieCastleNov 6, 2022
@feditips
Show threadRudramNov 6, 2022

@feditips appreciate all the fedi tips.

One thing I just don't get is when I look at someone's profile I can't see their follows/following - it feels like that should show up with a simple call to the other server.

Also told to use # tag search but that only works on your local server, right?

Show threadJos BellNov 6, 2022

@feditips thanks.
Two issues so far. I'm finding search just doesn't work. Putting in the mast handles doesnt link to people I know on here and also try names yet the response is blank.
What to deals?

Also no translate?

Show threadLeslie LibertyNov 6, 2022
@feditips Thank you for this! I'm a newbie. Do you know why I can log into the desktop version and not the app? It's making me choose a server to login to on the app but I don't see any familiar ones I originally signed up with. If I choose a random one it says my login failed.
Show threadLauren OliviaNov 6, 2022
@feditips this is sure gonna help me a lot. Thank you.
Show threadKazinatorNov 6, 2022
@feditips I just had one question: how do you follow a hash tag? Your FAQ has the answer: this is a new feature just being rolled out, available in some servers. That's quite surprising because it's the prime time use case for a tag, you would think. You can't tell your users "Follow Us on Mastodon, hash tag Acme" without this. You'd need to create a separate account that can be followed for each category that has independent updates.
Show threadBruce D'ArcusNov 6, 2022

@feditips one little design thing:

Is there a reason all the text, both questions/headings and answers/body text, are the same bold font?

Show threadMatt DoughtyNov 6, 2022
@feditips I'll ask here in case someone knows the answer. Is there anyway to prioritize federated messages from specific mastodon servers in the explore tab?
Show threadAcanthe20 🌐🏳️‍🌈😷🫂ClaudiaNov 6, 2022
@feditips @jasonervd heb je hier wat aan?
Show threadJasonervdNov 6, 2022
@Acanthe20 @feditips Oh held 🙏🏽
Show threadfrancoisejaffePhDNov 6, 2022
@feditips Thank you!
Show threadBob WatchornNov 6, 2022
@feditips Wow, this info was so helpful, thank you so much. Am really enjoying learning and exploring my new socials, much better than 'the little bird' 😊
Show threadDP from EarthNov 6, 2022

@feditips unfortunately your list is extremely long and not searchable. Put this kind of info on Google so people can search for specific topics.

For example, i see nothing related to filtering or banning misinformation, which is the whole problem with Musk's Twitter. Lies are rampant, truth is hidden. If Mastodon is just going to be another "anything goes" social media, then this core problem continues unabated.

Show threadSarmstrongNov 6, 2022
@feditips Brilliant. Thanks
Show threadLolaKittySLCNov 6, 2022
@feditips Thank you!
Show threadfoggy sunsetNov 6, 2022

@feditips I'm a newbie. I replied to someone's post, but don't know how to see my reply & don't even know if she saw it!

I also don't know how to see others' replies to the posts I read on my home screen - including yours.

I tried googling for answers but just get directed to tip sheets none of which explain "replying to posts."

Show threadFeliz CatusNov 6, 2022
@sunsetfoglight @feditips I’m new too & have no idea how any of this works either. We should start a support group. Lol
Show threadKazNov 6, 2022
@sunsetfoglight I think if you click on the post that you replied to, you should see your reply below. I’m learning too!
Show threadfoggy sunsetNov 7, 2022
@kazwhitehouse thanks! @fedi.tips was kind enough to respond & let me know that. who knew!
Show threadChris GuidryNov 6, 2022
@feditips Thank you for this write-up!
Show threadGusuNov 6, 2022

@feditips

Thank you for the hrlp!

Show threadStargeezer SmithNov 6, 2022
@feditips
Is there anything like bookmarks to help relocate interesting messages?
Show threadKeri DouglasNov 6, 2022
@feditips thanks for your tips! So helpful. So, how can I add a translate feature? Want to stay connected with international network. Thanks!
Show threadBenRosnerMD_PhDNov 6, 2022
@feditips extremely helpful. The whole “selecting a server” thing really confused me when joining, as I see it has done so for others. Creates a little bit of a barrier to entry which is unfortunate, but your help page clears up a lot for me. Appreciate it! I have a number of colleagues making the transition now.
Show threadOliNov 6, 2022
@feditips I have a question! Why do links to posts on other Mastodon instances open a browser, rather than showing them natively in the (official) app?
Show threadDale SchultzNov 6, 2022
@feditips make it so we don't have to read "how to" docs.
Show threadSteve FifieldNov 6, 2022
@feditips
Is there any way to search for people on here when their account is on a different server from the one you signed up on, please?
So far everyone I knew on Twitter is on a different server instance.
If I look to see who they follow, I only get to see the people they follow who are on my server, so I can’t discover the social interconnections that I’m looking for.
Show threadBri On The PondNov 6, 2022
@feditips Thank you!
Show threadDoubledadoNov 6, 2022
@feditips This looks helpful 🙌🏼.
Show threadClaire Nov 6, 2022
@feditips Thanks that’s super helpful!
Show threadPeter RelphNov 6, 2022
@feditips Is there a Federal Government in the Fediverse?