A kind observation that exclusively calling this place "Mastodon" has a bit similar energy as saying "I just sent a GMail."

"Fediverse" (or "fedi") is a more inclusive, general term.

Mastodon is just one of many software projects that talk to each other to create this multi-instance social network:
https://axbom.com/fediverse/

(kudos to @axbom for this fantastic infographic!)

There are blogs, Reddit-like communities, video instances and many more, all part of fedi.

#TwitterMigration #NewHere

The many branches of the Fediverse

As more and more people are asking me about Mastodon I felt a need for a picture to point at, showcasing how the software known as Mastodon fits into the much larger concept of the Fediverse. I made this infographic to help myself and others explain the many different use-cases

Axbom • My Next Heartbeat
@rysiek @axbom It’s not a better name because it sounds like “Metaverse”

@designbyadrian well, I'd say "Metaverse" sounds like "Fediverse". Fedi was here years before Zuck got his Big Idea on how to run Bookface to the ground.  

@axbom

@rysiek @axbom Yeah, but Meta had the marketing to make people know about Metaverse. I had never heard of “Fediverse” until Elon Musk became CEO of Twitter.