Mastodawn

Jan Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing We're here to help https://toot.io/mastodon_hosting.html

toot.io - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

Fully managed, dedicated Mastodon hosting by toot.io—transparent pricing, reliable operations, and expert support.

toot.io - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

Ignis 小火龙 Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing I can recommend https://YunoHost.org/ as well. It works especially well if you're in Europe (especially France or Germany)! Due to its integration with Internet Cube.

YunoHost: garden your own piece of the Internet!

YunoHost is a system that installs itself on a server and allows you to install and maintain - with very little technical knowledge - digital services (apps) that you control.

Botolo Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver unfortunately all the hosting solutions listed in the article are full and are not taking new clients.

@botolo86

I've added another one to the list of Mastodon hosts, and I have contacted the German language providers to see if they can take customers in English.

Botolo Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing unfortunately it looks like also the new provider you listed is sold out.

@botolo86

In that case I'd suggest contacting the German language providers to see if they are willing to take on English language customers.

By the way, if you are technically skilled or know someone with server admin experience, you can set up your own server without using a managed hosting provider at all.

I'm only suggesting managed hosting for benefit of people who have no access to technical people. Media outlets should have more access to techy people who can do this.

@botolo86

I've edited the original post so it has a link to the more technical option, which is available through any internet hosting provider.

benjamin melançon Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @botolo86 yes, and not only for a media outlets reported but for readers too!

https://agaric.coop/blog/recommendations-social-media-twitter-melts-down-host-your-own-community

Recommendations for social media as Twitter melts down: Host your own community

As Elon Musk destroys Twitter, a lot of clients have asked about alternative social media, especially 'Mastodon'— meaning the federated network that includes thousands of servers, running that software and many other FLOSS applications, all providing interconnecting hubs for distributed social media. Agaric has some experience in those parts, so we are sharing our thoughts on the opportunity in this crisis. In short: For not-for-profit organizations and news outlets especially, this is a chance to host your own communities by providing people a natural home on the federated social web.

Agaric

benjamin melançon Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @botolo86 after 15 years of gently suggesting to clients that building their own social network for their community is very unlikely to work out unless they have unusually fervent fans, i am surprised there is not an avalanche of businesses and organizations setting up fediverse servers now that the best of both worlds, your own community integrated into a global one, is possible.

smashmaster0045 Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @botolo86 hmmm that reminds me, I saw another managed hosting provider recently called pikapods https://www.pikapods.com/apps kind of a shame that mastodon isn't an option from them.

PikaPods - Instant Open Source App Hosting

Run the finest Open Source web apps from $1.20/month, fully managed, no tracking, no ads, full privacy. Self-hosting was never this convenient.

smashmaster0045 Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @botolo86 wait nvm it's going to be added, https://feedback.pikapods.com/posts/94/add-app-mastodon

Add App: Mastodon · PikaPods Feedback

Many dependencies, including Redis and PG https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/blob/main/docker-compose.yml

Botolo Dec 19, 2022

@smashmaster @FediThing Just to say that it looks like they have removed Mastodon from the apps they support.

Just Russ Dec 28, 2022

@FediThing @botolo86 Linode and some other providers offer machines with Cloudron pre-installed. It's not as easy as a fully managed solutions like masto.host but it's easier than installing from scratch.

Texas Observer Dec 18, 2022

@botolo86 @FediThing I can't speak to the quality of their service but I think @jeff may have an option now. And I expect more will be popping up

lookitmychicken Dec 18, 2022

@botolo86
@FediThing @TexasObserver

Toot.io is not listed in the article. (I don't know why.) We're using them to host blorbo.social and they've been great so far. https://toot.io/mastodon_hosting.html

toot.io - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

Fully managed, dedicated Mastodon hosting by toot.io—transparent pricing, reliable operations, and expert support.

toot.io - Fully Managed Mastodon Hosting

@lookitmychicken @botolo86 @TexasObserver

Ooh, thank you! Didn't know about them!

Ren Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver I do think @vkc has a point that not EVERYONE should run their own server. Yes, don't just join the biggest server you see. But maybe do join a smaller server that has an overarching subject you like such as anime, games, linux, furries, etc etc.

Cassandrich Dec 18, 2022

@rogueren @FediThing @TexasObserver @vkc More important than subject matter is that you trust the governance/moderation of the instance you choose. So like, don't just choose anime or gaming unless you'd be happy with the folks who run anime & gaming web forums having moderation authority over you. 😛

(No offense if some of them are actually awesome now, but historically fandom type stuff was not where you'd look for trusted governance.)

Texas Observer Dec 18, 2022

@rogueren @FediThing @vkc having "neighborhood" on here is a great experience but it does make a lot of sense for some organizations

Ren Dec 18, 2022

@TexasObserver @FediThing @vkc big organizations and huge online personalities (i.e. say if Markiplier, Mr. Beast, ScottTheWoz, etc. joined) should 100% look into their own personal servers

@rogueren @TexasObserver @vkc

Yes, they are paying their way and also protecting their own identity. It's a win-win for them and their audience.

Toxteth O'Grady Dec 18, 2022

@rogueren @FediThing @TexasObserver @vkc
I didn't join the biggest, but I did hop on the first train into the station. And a hangout that supposedly is favored by journalists. I ended up building my feed by who I "followed". There are now whole lists of journalists; the one I'm plowing through now has 1250 names on it...

Allen Michie Dec 18, 2022

@rogueren @FediThing @TexasObserver @vkc There’s a great small server for jazz fans and musicians—Jazztodon!

Joe ❌👑Dec 18, 2022

@rogueren @FediThing @TexasObserver @vkc Yes, I think that for most, a regional or a special interest server is best. For organizations, though, a server for their employees or members can be a good choice. And an employee could choose to have two accounts, one personal and one for business.

@not2b @rogueren @TexasObserver @vkc

The European Union started their own server when they joined recently, at https://social.network.europa.eu

All official EU accounts on the Fediverse are hosted there, for example @EU_Commission

I think this is a good model for any organisation, it proves who you are to others and gives total control over your own account (s).

EU Voice

EU Voice is the official ActivityPub platform of the EU institutions. With EU Video, it is part of an alternative social media pilot proposed and provided by the European Data Protection Supervisor.

Mastodon hosted on social.network.europa.eu

Ren Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @not2b @TexasObserver @vkc @EU_Commission ok that's cool

nephitejnf Dec 19, 2022

@rogueren @FediThing @not2b @vkc @EU_Commission
Although, I would argue that Pleroma is a better choice than mastodon, cause it's can be lighter and has a few more features.

Stargeezer Smith Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver

In case you didn't know, Mastodon is accessible through Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and Iphone. On desktops and laptops, just log into your instance with a browser. With cell phones, do that, or download Mastodon app or a 3rd party app that is compatible. Tusky is a popular one.

Cypher Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver I'm going to have to second what others are saying. Coops and communities that can sustain a server that wasn't to only federate with certain other servers MAY make sense to build their own, but most people will be fine on social or some of the other theme servers (or a few if you want to silo)

FranannigansD Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver What are the benefits?

@FranannigansD @TexasObserver

Here you go, a list of reasons why it's good to host your own online services:

https://growyourown.services/why-growing-your-own-services-is-a-good-idea/

Why growing your own services is a good idea! – Grow Your Own Services

Tathar is dragons! ΘΔ Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver

If that's your link, maybe add Owncast to it too?

@Tathar @TexasObserver

I'd love to include Owncast and but there's no managed hosting service for that yet?

I am a big fan of Owncast and happy to promote it whenever I get the chance!

Rob van der Linde Dec 18, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver I have a server already, I'm just waiting for the holidays so I can learn how to connect it to Fedi. I also need to do some more work on scaling before I'm ready for that.

Bianca Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver cc: @bulwarkonline

Sandhu Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver I don’t know any of this stuff but I would think if big media organizations rolled their own servers they could also run their own ads instead of relying on 3rd parties. Or maybe something akin to how daringfireball does sponsorships. They’ll have 100% control.

@FediThing @TexasObserver

Shaner8750 Dec 19, 2022

~# sudohuman Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver got any simple solutions for the smtp issue? I’m loathe to use Amazon and from what I understand getting a self hosted SMTP server is essentially a non starter due to spam rules.
It's the only thing holding up my deployment..

@sudohuman

I'm not a sysadmin so I'm not sure what to suggest (I use managed hosting for my instance). Maybe someone else can help?

rickyh Dec 19, 2022

@FediThing @TexasObserver Tempted to set one up. Not sure how much it will help the overall network though.

@rickyh @TexasObserver

Having your own server would help protect the overall network by making it more spread out.

The more spread out it is, the harder it will be for anyone to try taking it over.

Sheldon Rampton Apr 5, 2023

@FediThing @TexasObserver Do you have other examples of media organizations that have started their own Fediverse server?

FediThing has moved!Apr 5, 2023

@sheldonrampton

Yes, in a wide range of sizes, for example:

@FediThing
Also: on fedi you succeed with quality content rather than clckbaity titles. Since there’s no algorithm that starts boosting links based on just views, but rather people need to actually read and boost to give visibility for your things, content once again becomes more relevant than just shocking thumbnail and clickbaity title. Redeem some journalistic integrity and self respect by producing content people are willing to share rather than lowest denominator trash.