Original post credit to @LiberalDespot

This flow chart helps understand what ends up on each feed that you see. I am not boosting the original post so that I can add ALT text and a description that can benefit the largest number of people.

Here is a detailed explanation of the image if you are using a screenreader or simply prefer text:

-It starts with making a public post. If @foo makes a post and you follow them, it appears in your home timeline.

-If you are on the same instance as @foo but do not follow them, it appears in the local timeline.

-If someone on your instance follows @foo but you do not, it appears on the federated timeline.

-If someone on your instance boosts @foo or searches for them or the post with its URL, then it shows on your federated timeline.

-If none of these statements apply, then you never see that content.

It works the same way when you post.

Unlisted posts are public, but only if someone visits your page or follows you. They do not appear in timelines.

The federated timeline is, therefore, not everyone on Mastodon but posts or people that in some way connect to you.

Happy posting and reading!

Here's your irregular reminder that:

Twitter was a multi-billion dollar company with thousands of employees.

Mastodon is a niche hobbyist product run by volunteers

The fact that we're being seen as a viable alternative to them is an admission that a federated, decentralized future is not only possible, but desirable.

Mastodon is not one thing, or one place. It's a network of many things and many places. We don't have a spokesperson (I mean, there's me. I'm the official spokesperson for 💯 of the fediverse, but beyond me there is no spokesperson) we don't have consensus on moderation or blocking or tools or what is good and what is bad. Some of us are professional SREs and Sysadmins, some of us aren't. Some of our instances have been around for 5+ years, some won't be here in six months.

And that's good! All of it, every last bit of it is good.

We're wrestling power away from the billionaire class, in real time, and reclaiming it for the People.