Paul Haddad Mar 13, 2023

When creating a new account we show a list of ~40 suggested follows (should be the same as explore -> for you on the web client). I'm debating just auto-selecting them (possibly with a “skip" button).

I don't want to be accused of forcing people to follow other users, but the first launch experience when not following anyone is pretty terrible.

My guess is that most will tap continue without even reading anything. So it's an auto-follow but for a good purpose...

Thoughts?

Show threadPaul Haddad Mar 13, 2023

Since a few have asked. The list comes from the individual instance (mastodon.social in this case). The admin can make changes to the list, a user can opt themselves out of it. It's not separated by any kind of “category”. Outside of the two company accounts we just show what the server returns.

My gut says that anything short of having a diversely populated timeline on launch is going to cause most users to run the app once, delete it and then go complain on Twitter that Mastodon is too hard.

Show threadCasey Newton
@paul i think this is basically right
Mar 14, 2023 at 12:00amIvory for Mac
Show threadMike BeasleyMar 14, 2023
@caseynewton @paul guy on list of automatic follows endorses list of automatic follows 😂😬
Show threadCasey NewtonMar 14, 2023
@MikeBeas u jelly 😂 😬
Show threadJoe Fabisevich Mar 14, 2023
@caseynewton @paul I assume the part that’s not right is you’d like to be higher on the list?
Show threadBrian BoucheronMar 14, 2023
@caseynewton @paul if this list isn’t amended to always include @anildash then what even are we doing here?
Show threadAnil DashMar 14, 2023
@beardicus @caseynewton lol I think Paul has had me blocked on all social media for many years; if I recall i told him I found his perspective on a couple of things pretty sexist and he didn’t take the feedback well. So, no list for me!