Twitter is vs. Mastodon: Which Platform to Pick (and a better alternative) |
Twitter was launched in the year 2006, and during the years that followed, the little bird tweeted its way into the minds and the hearts of more than 400 million users. Twitter consisted of text-based posts that were compiled in "tweets." People who have been long-time users of the platform will remember the furore when tweets were expanded beyond the 140 characters limit to 280 characters, and the quick outrage that followed.
In the wake of Elon Musk's $40 billion Twitter acquisition that was announced in October 2022, plenty of users have fled Twitter. There are those who don't like Musk his own persona, be it his political views or his leadership style. Some people do not agree with his plans for the platform.
Another of Twitter alternatives that's been making waves lately is Mastadon. It was launched in 2016 to be an open-source and free-of-cost social network, Mastodon touts (or we ought to be saying "toots") itself as the best option for those who are long-term Twitter users. With famous people like Kathy Griffin and Stephen Fry making the switch and you're probably wondering if it's the right time to give it a go this too.
In this post we'll discuss Twitter as opposed to. Mastodon, showing how the wooly mammoth compares with the blue-colored bird, and we'll talk introduce a better option.
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A better alternative to both Twitter and Mastodon
Actual ownership = monetization
What exactly is Mastodon
Mastodon is a social network , hosted on what users refer to as the "fediverse" which signifies that the network runs on independent servers that can connect to one another. It has a sort of a local-to-social network feel. Created in 2016 by Eugen Rochko, Mastodon is a little as if it's a network of independent social networks who have the similar language.
However, if the personal server part of Mastadon is a source of anxiety, let's say this. Once you get past the host server (ie. which is where your personal information is) and the experience for users is ridiculously similar to Twitter perhaps with the addition of Discord included. Instead of "tweet" it's a "toot." instead you "liking," you "favorite" something. Long-time users of Twitter are likely to identify Mastodon as a type of brand that is similar to Twitter however it has 500 characters.
Mastodon allows you to create an accounton the platform, and you can add a profile pic, a link to your website, and other details that users put on their Twitter bios. As with Twitter the service provides the number of followers as well as the ones you're following. You're able to respond, boost (AKA "retweet"), or star (favorite) some thing and bookmark tweets.
Pros and cons of Mastadon
Pros
- Mastadon feels like Twitter. The usability is likely to be similar, allowing you to get your account set up quick. Posting, uploading photos as well as videos, even polls feel almost identical.
- It's also got functionalities that are interactive. You can send direct messages to persons, monitor them, block them, or use an @ to refer them to them.
- Its decentralised feel gives you MORE options that Twitter for building something like an area, or a dedicated server on which users who are who are interested in one particular topic could meet.
- There aren't any advertisements on Mastodon. Users have been creating servers either through a cash payment or with crowdfunding. There are some problems with it, and we'll discuss in the next section, but it's nice in theory.
- The code that runs Mastodon is open source. It's generally good news since users can adopt it and use it to customize the way they talk. Alongside the Mastodon official applications, users have used Mastodon's open-source code to build their own social applications.
- There is no limit to the number of the people who are on your server. You are able to follow individuals across the platform, whatever server they happen to live on. You can also mark servers that are open for join or ask potential users to an application to join.
Cons
- There isn't an algorithm. Posts are displayed in the order they're posted. It sounds good at first however it reduces the user-friendliness of the platform.
- Someone has to pay. It's wonderful not to have ads on Mastodon However, there might be a catch. Building your following on a server is a requirement that is required to cover the cost or else you'll have to pay yourself or you'll be operating using a server that someone is paying for. This is fine if it lasts for long, but when someone thinks it's not worthy of their time and effort to pay for the server, it may be gone.
- Mastodon is complicated to set up for those who want to create the channel of your choice. It is important to determine how to do your own hosting and install security protocols. If you're not a programmers, you would probably need to engage one.
- There are plenty of security issues regarding the way that this platform is organized. Requiring people to "apply" to the server can help a bit, and so can the "block" features. But there's no real moderation and you can see almost everyone, regardless of which server they're using. Since it's a grassroots community and there's no one to attempt to alter the culture if it inevitably gets controlled by bots and trolling.
- There's nothing that can be done to make money from Mastodon. And not only that, but it's not completely free. Whoever is hosting the network must pay for it and there's no advertising. At present the network is funded by donations, which raises grave questions about the viability of the networks.
- It's an open source and decentralized community engine. Open source can be good, users can modify and correct bugs, but also bad and has created controversial networks like Gab.
An alternative to both Twitter AND Mastodon
As a Twitter alternative, it offers similar aspects. However, it's more difficult to utilize, requires self-hosting if you want to create a server, and frankly, is missing a lot of the good attributes Twitter provides. It's easy to ignore the algorithm. However, on a traditional social network, the algorithm helps you find content that you'd like to read. When your feed is a never-ending and unorganized information dump, it makes it difficult to talk to people and to build community. We could think of Mastodon as a kind of forum however it's not working as well as something like reddit, which allows up-voting as well as down-voting, which ensures that users have access to relevant content.
We'll talk about an alternative. Mighty is a software platform for culture designed to help build lively communities. However, where Twitter is a massive social network and Mastodon is a huge number of servers, Mighty lets you build an intimate community of users who share the same visions and objectives.
Here are some reasons to build a Mighty Network instead.
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True usability
Where Mastodon needs coding as well as hosting to set up an individual server. Mastodon gives you an impressive community from the start. Anyone is able to easily build, grow, and even monetize a beautiful community that blows Twitter and Mastodon out of the water.
Real content is a feature of HTML0.
280 characters? 500? What's the point? A Mighty Network gives you actual Content features. You can create posts, if you wish and also write full-length pieces (blog posts). Create polls, discussions, set up discussion groups, live streams as well as add events and create classes. Mighty is a platform designed to foster community as well as bring a bunch of people who are strangers and to help people become friends for life.
Spaces Not servers
Contrary to Mastodon which is a platform where people live in servers, but are able to connect over the entire platform, a Mighty Network is an enclosed community. Instead of having to join various servers, discussion and activities can be organized by spaces instead. Each space provides you with the option to sell access to events, host them, add content, all-member chat or even live streaming or courses.
Actual ownership = monetization
If you've done the work to build an online community, and now you're looking to monetize the community, nothing is to be concerned about. Instead of fretting about the presence of ads on your platform or not - like Mastodon does - why not just build on the platform that can help you turn community into a thriving company?
The platform is built with payment integration, making it simple to charge users for a once-off or monthly cost for the privilege (or keep it free if you prefer). Or, some Hosts are able to monetize their free community by charging for live events, which charge for access to premium space, or selling a course. The sky is the limit, and you can't do any of this on or through Twitter as well as Mastodon.
Securer
A Mighty Network gives you way more options for safety and moderated use. It has the same possibilities similar to Mastodon in encouraging members to sign up or even apply to join. Moderators can manage content as well as enlist other hosts as moderators. And since users belong to a community instead of the entire platform, you'll be secure in your personal Network.
Applications and access
comes with a great app with a great app for every device. With Mighty Pro, you can have a customized, branded app that gives you the Mighty Network entirely within your brand. We do the building and support for the long-term. Contact us to find out more.
Are you ready to get started?
If you're looking for an alternative to Twitter as well as Mastodon, then the software reviews website G2 ranks as the #1 rating community platform. With Mighty, you get the power of a community engine that will gather people to have great discussions. However, add options like courses, events and monetization, and you've got all the elements to make your own social community.
Why not give it a try? It's cost-free for 14 days and we'll never need the credit card details of your. It's possible to have your own personal social network running in the next 20 minutes. No programming required.
Do you want to build your community?