Mastodawn

reimu stallman Nov 18

Today I am stepping down from my role as the CEO of #Mastodon. Though this has been in the works for a while, I can't say I've fully processed how I feel about it. There is a bittersweet part to it, and I think I will miss it, but it also felt necessary. It feels like a goodbye, but it isn't—I intend to stay on and continue to advise the new leadership and contribute, because Mastodon—and the fediverse—is one of the very few beacons of hope for a better web.

https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/my-next-chapter-with-mastodon/

My next chapter with Mastodon

Reflections on my time leading Mastodon and what's to come next.

Mastodon Blog

Eugen Rochko Nov 18

RE: https://mastodon.social/@mellifluousbox/115569615176946969

I am passing the torch to @mellifluousbox, who will be the new Executive Director. Felix has been involved with #Mastodon since 2020 and has been instrumental in evolving the organization, raising funds, and growing the team to get us to where we are now. With @haubles and @renchap by his side, and the team we have assembled over the years, I have faith that the new leadership will do a stellar job.

Antifascist Atha Ahuluheluw Nov 18

@Gargron And thank you for what you've done for this platform - and again for helping me out the other. Of course, we expect even more pictures taken by you now you have time to spare! 😉 🙏🏾 @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap
Best wishes to you all! Thank you for everything you've done so far and will do in the future! ❤

Anna Miriamsdochter Nov 18

@Gargron Thank you Eugen! It takes real courage to leave your baby in other people's hands.

Koen de Jonge - SynQ Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

Thank you Eugen! I wish you a lot of rest and wisdom in the coming years and I hope you stick around for a long long time. 👍🏻

Systeemkabouter 🇳🇱 🇪🇺 🇺🇳Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

Thank you for all the great work done for the Fediverse, it would not have been this big and public without Mastodon and your effort towards it.

Leigh Silvester Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

Thank you for this fantastic thing that you and your team have created.

Julien Colomb Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

It is always mixed feelings when the kids grow and leave the house ;)

You can be proud that mastodon continue to grow without you.

Take care and thank you for this candle of hope that mastodon is.

quangobaud Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

What's the worst that could happen!? 😃

Oh.
A mysterious scrap of toot hath appeared ...
What does it say ..?

"Hei! Aa-shanta 'nygh! You are off! Send back earth's gods to their haunts on unknown Kadath, and pray to all space that you may never meet me in my thousand other forms. Farewell, Eugen Rocko, and beware; for I am Nicole, the Fediverse Chick."

😱 *gulp*

Basₜᵣₒ Nov 18

@Gargron @haubles @renchap

@mellifluousbox is the new John Mastodon

Steve Butman Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

Mastodon is the only social media I use, and I'm grateful both for the philosophy behind it and for the work you've done to build an application the supports this philosophy. Thanks for everything you've done and for all of your hard work.

@stevebutman @Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap this! 😉

Karl Schwartzmuller Nov 18

@Gargron Vielen Dank, dass Sie diesen Weg eröffnet und das Fediverse zu einem Netzwerk der freien und respektvollen Meinungsäußerung gemacht haben! Viel Erfolg für Ihre neuen Projekte!

joe ching Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

Thank you for all your hard work.

Merci!

Warner Crocker Nov 18

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap Thanks for all you've done @gargon

David Hopeward Nov 18

@Gargron
Thank you for all the work you’ve done!

Mastodon specifically has had a character that I really appreciate, and it brought me to the Fediverse after I’d abandoned all the commercial platforms.

I wish you and your family well.

GunChleoc Nov 18

@Gargron Thanks for all your hard work and don't be a stranger!

Michael Jaeger 🇺🇦Nov 18

Ganz vielen Dank für dein Engagement und dafür, was du für uns alle ausgebaut hast! Ich bin schockiert zu lesen, wie du von manchen Menschen und Medien angegangen wurdest... Jetzt wünsche ich dir Kraft und die Möglichkeit, etwas Abstand zu bekommen. Dein Beitrag zu unserer Gesellschaft ist IMO gar nicht zu unterschätzen. DANKE!

Maddad ☑️Nov 19

@Gargron @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap

Thanks for all that you have done.
Because of Mastodon, I am reading, writing, and staying up to date on world events again.

Furbland's Very Cool Mastodon™Nov 18

@Gargron thank you for all you've done so far! here's to many more years of non-predatory social media!

Graham Downs Nov 18

@Gargron Good luck, Gargron!

Maybe now you can contribute more, even. As in, without having to worry about all the management and PR [as in Public Relations, not Pull Requests], you might have more time to focus on the *other* PR stuff [is in Pull Requests, not Public Relations].

The end of an era! :-D

@Gargron thank you for everything john

zaire arcana Nov 18

@aeva @Gargron how does it feel knowing some will forever remember you as john mastodon,,,

feels like “john thing“ has become an omniapplicable way of referring to the founder of something at this point

@soop @Gargron no he passed the torch. felix hlatky is john mastodon now.

zaire arcana Nov 18

@aeva @Gargron yeah both eugen and that other guy are john mastodon now. one does not simply stop being john mastodon you see

@Gargron Thanks for all your work on the fediverse! And good look for it in the future also

jilleduffy Nov 18

@Gargron Thank you for your service to this community, and I appreciate your honest words in your decision to step down

milkytwix Nov 18

@Gargron Thanks for all the fish! I expect further caturday posts, Sir!

@Gargron You've done an amazing job, thank you and best wishes on your next journey!

Adam Dalliance Nov 18

@Gargron Thanks for all you've gone Eugen, good luck in the next chapter.

@Gargron Thanks for your work!

Aris Leepvogel, gelukzoeker ✅Nov 18

@Gargron Thank you for your work.

Klaudia (aka jinxx)Nov 18

@Gargron Wow. Letting go is always kind of hard. Thank you for giving us a truly social platform and designing a whole part of the fediverse that's – hopefully – here to stay. I'm very much willing to do my part in maintaining this beacon of hope for the free and democratic world and do my humble steps – way behind you. Thank you and very much looking forward to keeping in touch here.

Tisha Tiger / Neliger Nov 18

@Gargron Thank you so much for what you offered to the world! 👏

Prem Kumar Aparanji 👶🤖🐘Nov 18

@Gargron thank you, God bless and godspeed!

Yes, #fediverse is the last bastion for community platforms against the corporate model that eventually, and inevitably, devalues into a self-sustaining greed cycle.

David Schmidt Nov 18

@Gargron I truly appreciate all the work you put into initiating this effort. Mastodon will undoubtedly evolve into the platform we all hope for, and you will be a key figure in its development.

BarbNerdy 🐿️Nov 18

@individual8 @Gargron

+1

and to add:

When I look at how Mastodon has evolved, I think you did a VERY good job in saying "no"!

Saying "no" is one of the hardest thing good product people have to do.

Thank you for providing us all a new "home" in these times.

Weltzeitgeist Nov 18

@Gargron Well done. Thank you und alles Gute!

joy larkin 🌺✨Nov 18

Thank you so much for everything.

MoveFastAndFixThings Nov 18

@Gargron you’re amazing. This is a story I will tell the kids.

Lö(h)we Nov 18

@Gargron thanks Eugen, sad to see you go, especially since you are not the typical tech billionaire kind of guy and always had a very healthy, down to earth approach to this crazy project... can't thank you enough for all you've done for Mastodon and the Fediverse, hope to still see you around and good luck for whatever lies ahead for you now

@Gargron thank you very much for all your work!

Chris. R. 🎧🎼☕🍍Nov 18

@Gargron thanks for everything so far. Good luck with your new direction.

Paul Schoe Nov 18

Thanks Eugen. You have delivered a tool that opened a window to return to the original intention of the Internet.

Your focus on decentralisation brought thousands of communities the ability to communicate safely. Among themselves or in connection to others.

The Fediverse wouldn't be where it is now without your tenacity and focus to bring Mastodon to where it is now.

You have the respect and gratitude of many.

#Mastodon #Eugen #Rochko #Vision

txerren 🇵🇸Nov 18

@Gargron thank you for your work (and play) and all the best in your new adventures, Eugen.

Eskerrik asko guztiagatik.

@Gargron thanks for your work, your honesty and your generosity.

Mike Hindle Nov 18

@Gargron "The fediverse is an island within an increasingly dystopian capitalist hellscape. And from my perspective, Mastodon is our best shot at bringing this vision of a better future to the masses."

Amazing 🤩 Wishing you all the best best, Eugen and thank you for everything you have done 🙏🏻

coldclimate Nov 18

@Gargron thank you

阿菜不菜 Nov 18

@Gargron 只要mastodon不会发生改变就好，希望越来越好😭

The Typist Nov 18

You opened the door to a decentralised social network and for that I will forever thank you.

Dr. Juande Santander-Vela Nov 18

@Gargron that’s a very difficult step to take, and the fact that you’ve taken it speaks really well about you. Thanks for so you’ve done so far, for contributions still to come, and all the best!

@Gargron Thank you, Eugen! <3

Androcat Nov 18

@Gargron Will M dot S have sensible moderation sometime, then?
Or will it still be pro-genocide and pro-racist?

pkprotoplasm Nov 18

@androcat a fantastic demonstration of why he’s stepping down. Well done

Androcat Nov 18

@pkprotoplasm Well, great if he has realized his limitations.

He made bad choices, and these were clearly very deeply thought-out.

That means he should leave, and let more sensible people handle the very sensitive matter that is moderation.

coldclimate Nov 18

@Gargron stumbling over mastodon a few years ago has had the biggest positive impact on my life. Thanks to you.

Arthur van der Harg Nov 18

@Gargron Thank you for bringing Mastodon to this point. Godspeed on your further journeys!