Partisan Quick Guide To X Alternatives
So, you're finally deciding to leave X. Good for you. Here are your choices and you can pick more than one:
1. Threads - Commercial (Meta). Lots of popular ex-X accounts. Looks like X. No ads yet. Algorithm driven.
2. Bluesky - Commercial (Private). Looks like X, No ads yet. Customizable algorithm.
3. Mastodon - Open System Collective. Totally Awesome. Doesn't look like X. Threads/Bluesky bridges. No Algorithm (That's a good thing!)
X Alternatives: Who owns your new social media network? Threads is owned by Meta. During the election Meta used the Threads algorithm to promote and demote certain content. Bluesky is currently owned by VCs. So far have not seen finagling with content, but is that guaranteed forever?
"I will never again devote my energies to building up an audience on a platform whose management can sever my relationship to that audience at will." -Cory Doctorow (https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/ulysses-pact/#tie-yourself-to-a-federated-mast)
But with no algorithm, how do you see any content? Isn't your feed dead?
So, this is the real beauty of Mastodon and why so many people really love it. You see only the content from those you follow. No invisible hand is pushing stuff at you. Now, this does take a little work to get up to speed, but really it is not difficult and there are lots of tricks to help you. Just find interesting posts and follow the account.
OK, starting out how do you find accounts to follow?
1. Just click on Explore for posts that are currently getting boosted a lot on your server. If you like something click on the poster, check out their profile page and follow them.
2. On the explore page type in a hashtag like #astronomy for a listing of posts with that hashtag. Or, just type a word and find posts using that word. You can also follow hashtags! 👀
3. Follow people who comment on posts you like.
So, you're following a nice bunch, but still want more.
It's time for Followgraph. It provides you with a list of accounts the people you follow are following. Again, it looks at the accounts you follow and gives you a listing of accounts they follow. So, let's say you like astronomy and follow a half dozen great astronomy accounts. It is very likely they follow a broad array of great astronomy accounts you can follow too.
It's awesome >>> https://followgraph.vercel.app/
Big Boosters and Curated Accounts are also great.
Another really good way to get you account humming is to follow accounts that focus on one area and boost a lot of content. As examples, @Flipboard (and associate topical accounts) is a big curator, and following someone like @JonChevreau will expose you to a lot. You will quickly come across them in your area of interest, and by following them, you will get a ton of content.
The beauty is you control what you see.
So, you have followed a lot of folks and now your home feed is kind of overwhelming?
Lists are the answer. Set up at least three or four lists. Go into the list's settings and toggle "Remove these posts from home." You can number them to arrange the list display order. When following accounts, after you hit FOLLOW, click the three vertical dots and choose "Add or Remove from lists". This will bring up your lists and you can click + to add.
Lists make Mastodon so much better!
You can, kind of.
You can export your lists to a .csv file. Preferences >>> Import and Export >>> Export >>> Lists
This gives you a file you can edit in any spreadsheet. You can then cut and paste the account names into a regular post.
There is an "algorithm" view though, it just isn't the default feed when you log in. It's called "Explore".
Technically yes. It is the posts that are currently most popular on your server.
For now, I am where my members are and do my best to keep an eye to the distortions of platform vendors.
Platform independence is critical.
The ability to sever your relationship with any platform at will is incredibly liberating.
The shifting policies of our home countries is a bit more difficult 😏 Thank you for your patience.
@mastodonmigration I cannot imagine a scenario where the commercial sites DON'T go down the same evil paths Twitter did. Hell, Threads is already there-only a fool thinks Zuckerberg is their friend.
Mastodon is the option, period. Using anything else is to support the disinformation movement. If anyone still thinks having a lot of "followers" matters more, they need to take a breath and take a good look at what has just happened.
I have three times as many followers on X vs mastodon, but less than 1/10 the engagement.
@W6KME @mastodonmigration There's a very good argument that a social media site can't make money unless it monetizes user content via advertising. Even the most well-intentioned owners will resort to manipulation to sustain and boost revenue.
Users, though, need to understand that support and financing doesn't come by magic.
Yup! It is a really good idea to support your instance server. You can do this by going to the server name /about page (https:// [server name]/about) which will generally have a link to a patreon or something. Setting up a monthly donation of a few dollars is really cool! 🕶️
@mastodonmigration
I am just thinking out loud: wouldn’t it be possible to create plugins with algorithms for Mastodon?
I mean: Yes, it is beautiful that Mastodon doesn’t have an algorithm, so that you are fully in control. But some people might want to apply an algorithm on top of Mastodon in order to filter/sort the huge amount of posts.
It might also help new users finding people to follow.
Feel like, if you read the entire thread that point is pretty clear. This was the subtle version from yesterday. Today made an attempt at a humorous version:
https://mastodon.online/@mastodonmigration/113460350142869916
But your point is spot on. Bluesky is a honey trap.
FICTIONAL DATELINE November 2027: Elon Musk Completes Acquisition of Bluesky LLC Musk announced his intention to fold the upstart liberal social media network into his X Empire, shocking Democrats and the progressive social media community that moved en masse to Bluesky three years ago after the disastrous 2024 election. "No one could have seen this coming," agreed top content creators on Bluesky assuring their millions of followers, they would stay and fight to keep Bluesky blue. #Bluesky
No problem. Happy to have the opportunity to link to the other post. We are all scattered right now. Thanks for all you do!
Mastodon Migration
El Duvelle
Angua 
JonChevreau 🇨🇦
Christian Kent
James 🦉 #FBPE 🇪🇺
Jorge Candeias
Friend Computer
dragonfrog
🇨🇦 TRH 🇨🇦
Eric Redegeld
Projectkin.org
W6KME
🗦 𝙴𝚞𝚋𝚒𝚎 𝙳𝚛𝚎𝚠 🗧（🦣)
Corb_The_Lesser
MyOpinion
Lee 🌏
David🪄
Morten Zøllner Wendelboe 🟢🟣
Hartmut Neubauer
@pineywoozle ‘s #3WordNote