I asked around so-called influencers why they were not on #Mastodon . Here are the most common replies:
1) We can't go viral on Mastodon (read as we can't game the system because humans only boost good stuff)
2) They want a algo driven system (why do you want to see angry posts all day & night?)
3) You can't make money on Mastodon (WTF that even mean?)
4) It is way too technical & confusing. Which server to join? WTF is the server?
Only the last one is valid. The rest are all lazy reasons.
The disdain for anyone that makes money through content online, is palpable. I'm not trying to change your opinion on that. I'm just pointing it out.
Going viral doesn't mean gaming the system. Most content goes viral because it is novel, entertaining, and fun.
And as I've said on here many, many times, the most viewed content on social media by far isn't angry content. It's happy/funny content. Twitter and 4chan are miserable places. TikTok and Instagram are happier places.
I see a lot of replies of the form:
"You can make money on Mastodon! You just have to do A, B, and C! It works!"
And:
"We don't want influencers on Mastodon."
The thing I find funny about the "You can make money on Mastodon!" claim, is that it's almost always proclaimed by Mastodon dudes that don't make any money through their social media content, talking about people that do make money on their social media content. 0% experience, 100% confidence.🙂🙃
2/N
The thing I like about the other replies, ("We don't want influencers on Mastodon!") is that at least it's honest? 🤷🏿♂️
People sit around and imagine what influencers are like, decide that they don't like these people as a group, and then say that they're happy those people are not here. In all sincerity, I respect that.
I feel the same way about "prank content" creators. I find the pranks annoying, dangerous, disrespectful, and unfunny.
3/N
I don't think the good influencers are bad.
MKBHD is an influencer. He influences the tech and automotive industries. Back in the day, you used to have to see what Walt Mossberg thought of a new piece of tech. As a child, MKBHD changed the industry with just a camera, his voice, and his opinions.
A recent smartphone camera shootout:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VRoTOE3FqT0
His first video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9gk_rl3y_SU
His videos go viral.
He's not gaming the algorithm.
He's not selling hate.
4/N
@molly0xfff is an influencer. Through sharp criticism, deep technical expertise, and a better understanding of the nature of humor and satire than most professional comedians, she influences US securities policy, the venture capital industry, large tech companies, and fintech consumers.
https://www.web3isgoinggreat.com
She did a better job than tech journalism or the FTC/SEC at mitigating the financial damage of crypto.
She doesn't game the system to go viral.
She doesn't sell hate.
5/N
Molly White and MKBHD deserve to be paid for their labor. The world is a better place because their criticisms and influence exist.
They should be able to earn a living on Mastodon.
If they can't, then it makes sense for them to exist online in other places too.
Confusion about the distinction between paying for labor, real commerce, and capitalism, leads many on Mastodon to reflexively hate anything or anyone that makes money. I think this is a self-defeating view.
nixCraft 🐧
mekka okereke 
Patrick Lam 
John Flournoy