Mastodawn

@beitmenotyou The best way to build a high-quality, personalized contact list in the Fediverse is through conversations and retweets with your own contacts.
In Bluesky, starter packs can be integrated into feeds and further filtered there, making them a valuable source of information. Mastodon does not offer this filtering option.

@zotheca I get your point. Good Fediverse discovery still comes from conversation, boosts, and trusted mutuals, not just curated lists. But Collections could still serve as an entry point for newcomers who don't yet have a network. They are not a replacement for organic discovery, but they could make the first few steps much less overwhelming.

@beitmenotyou If “good Fediverse discoveries … still come from conversations, boosts, and trusted communities [and] not just from curated lists,” why should newcomers build their connections through curated lists?

@zotheca Because curated lists can be a starting point, not the destination. They lower the barrier for newcomers who do not yet know who to follow, then conversations, boosts, and shared interests do the real sorting over time. Collections are not a replacement for organic discovery; they are more like a map that helps people find the Room faster.

@beitmenotyou Okay, if it helps you build connections, I'm happy for you.

@zotheca You're missing the point of the issue. A new account with no followers can feel empty at first, especially if the user isn't yet familiar with how Mastodon's discovery works. Collections could serve as a simple starting point, providing new users with a few relevant accounts to follow before they dive into conversations and communities.

@beitmenotyou If joinmastodon offered people the option to sign up directly for instances that match their interests, most people wouldn't have any trouble finding like-minded contacts.
This doesn't solve any problem.

Skwerlgyrl 3d ago

@beitmenotyou

As a #Mastodon newbie, I think this looks like an interesting way to discover the #fediverse but I will admit that I gave up on #bluesky a long time ago. I'm looking forward to what #Collections might bring to light for those of us who recently escaped the claws of #Meta.

@Skwerlgyrl That's exactly where I think Collections could help most. For people leaving Meta, X, and more and joining Mastodon for the first time, the hardest part is often knowing where to begin. A thoughtful collection can give you a starting point, then the real magic happens through conversations, boosts, and finding your own corners of the Fediverse. It could make that first step feel far less overwhelming.

Skwerlgyrl 3d ago

@beitmenotyou That's kind of a big deal! Because the hardest part of encouraging my friends to give #Mastodon a try has definitely been selling the idea of discovery. #Meta and #X make searching for new friends or new groups so easy.

Will #Collections have links to the collection that could be shared outside of Mastodon? I'm sorry if you already covered that detail and I missed it.