greynotegrazJan 27, 2025
Ars Technica
Mastodon becomes nonprofit to make sure it’s never ruined by billionaire CEO
Mastodon shifts to nonprofit ownership, calls for $5M in donations to expand.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/01/mastodon-becomes-nonprofit-to-make-sure-its-never-ruined-by-billionaire-ceo/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
Mastodon’s founder cedes control, refuses to become next Musk or Zuckerberg

Mastodon shifts to nonprofit ownership, calls for $5M in donations to expand.

Ars Technica
Jan 13, 2025 at 8:21pmArsBot 🤖
Show threadjumsJan 13, 2025
@arstechnica "becomes" ? Was it ever a for-profit ? 🤔
Show threadel Celio 🇪🇺 🇺🇦Jan 13, 2025

@jums @arstechnica
No. It was a non-for-profit, but the German tax authorities revoked the non-for-profit status.

They are creating a new company also to comply with German law.

Show threadjumsJan 14, 2025
@elCelio @arstechnica right so it did not "become" anything new, it always have been
Show threaddon Elías (como los buses) 🥨Jan 14, 2025
@jums Mastodon gGmbH was founded as a non-profit organization, but the tax authority in Germany revoked their non-profit status without explanation, see this blog post from April 2024 https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2024/04/mastodon-forms-new-u.s.-non-profit/
Mastodon forms new U.S. non-profit

As part of our commitment to supporting the growth and operational capabilities of Mastodon, we have established a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity in the United States aimed at facilitating our efforts, including being able to receive tax-deductible U.S. donations.

Mastodon Blog
Show threadGreen HombreJan 13, 2025
@arstechnica @jums This prevents that from happening.
Show threadCursed LechonkJan 13, 2025

@arstechnica hope they take advantage of the “meta situation” and grow

I came back yesterday and was delighted to see that the login process is easier for normal non techy users and many news sources are available either on mastodon.social or flipboard

Show threadRebeccaJan 14, 2025
@andresjabois @arstechnica It's my opinion that the Internet became 'bad' the moment 'non-techies' joined the fray. I'd be content if they remained excluded, because now it's a fucking nightmare.
Show thread⁂Krafty⁂ #NoKingsJan 14, 2025
@rebecca_meadows @andresjabois @arstechnica :|
Show threadseachangedJan 14, 2025

@rebecca_meadows @andresjabois @arstechnica

Like 1994, maybe?

Show threadblackgatonegroJan 13, 2025

@arstechnica

It was about time.

Show threadAdrian SegarJan 13, 2025
@arstechnica Instead of pouring $30M into a rival of Bluesky, Free Our Feeds <https://freeourfeeds.com/> should give $5M to #Mastodon.
Free Our Feeds

Free Our Feeds
Show threadMastodon MigrationJan 14, 2025

@ASegar @arstechnica

💯 !!!

And they are not talking about building a rival of Bluesky, but rather a second AT Protocol instance (relay) running Bluesky software. So, effectively helping build out Bluesky.

Show threadBright CircuitJan 14, 2025
@ASegar @arstechnica I agree that Mastodon should get some amount but with Bluesky having a much larger and more active user base along with much easier sign up, discovery and better usability it only makes sense they should get the majority.
Show threadAdrian SegarJan 14, 2025

@Jackha @arstechnica Bluesky has easier sign-up because it's a (for-profit) single server, and a larger user base because it largely mirrors Twitter's UI. IME, its user base is far LESS active than Mastodon's.

Bluesky will become enshittified. I don't see how freeourfeeds will avoid the same fate; effective moderation at large monolithic sites is expensive and has to be paid for (ads? gah) after the $30M has gone.

Show threadGraham WardJan 14, 2025
@Jackha @arstechnica @ASegar I agree. I've found I get significantly more engagement here compared to #BlueSky. Sometimes 10:1.
Show threadsmarqJan 14, 2025
@arstechnica the future @cetan
Show threadMark CrockerJan 14, 2025
@arstechnica It worked out so well for Open AI https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenAI#2015%E2%80%932018:_Non-profit_beginnings
OpenAI - Wikipedia

Show threadFreediverXJan 14, 2025
@arstechnica
Show threadGreen HombreJan 13, 2025
@arstechnica Bluesky should go non-profit.
So should the Washington Post.
(I'd like to see it become a program of the Smithsonian Institute.)
Show threadGreen HombreJan 13, 2025
@arstechnica @Gargron explains why he is doing this.
mastodon.social/@Gargron/11382…