One of the big sticking points for a lot of people when they think about giving Mastodon a go is what server to join. It often feels like a huge hurdle and a no-going-back choice that stops people actually giving the platform a go at all. So let’s chat about Mastodon servers and how to decide which is for you.
WTF is a Mastodon server?
Before we get into which Mastodon server is for you, we need to know what they even are and how they’re different from each other.
Unlike the social media we’re used to, Mastodon (and the Fediverse at large) isn’t owned by one evil overlord CEO or corporation, it’s actually lots of everyday people, community groups, and other folks who each host a server. Those servers then all talk to each other to enable the interconnected nature of the Fediverse.
Let’s say the Fediverse is Jurassic Park – each zone (Jurassic, Triassic, Cretaceous) is a platform (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook). And each enclosure in that zone (t-rex, triceratops, apatosaurus) is a server (neurodifferent, FediScience, ClimateJustice, LGBT).
If you want an overview of the different platforms/zones, give this a read.
What to think about when choosing a Mastodon server.
The best known, and default, Mastodon server is Mastodon.Social – it’s where most people start and it is… not my favourite place on the internet. I get why they made it the default but I disagree with the decision and, frankly, almost everyone I know who joined that server then goes “Mastodon sucks” and stops using it entirely.
Those who stuck around changed servers and found much better experiences elsewhere on the Fediverse. So here’s what I think you should consider when choosing a server:
- What are you passionate about?
- Who do you want to connect with?
- What kind of vibe do you enjoy on social media or in communities?
- What identities do you hold that you would like to know are safe and understood?
- How much moderation do you want or believe is appropriate?
- Do you want to connect primarily with people local to you geographically?
There are servers out there for (almost) any mix of answers to these – and if you can’t find one, you can make your own! But we’re not going to discuss making your own server here.
I hang out over on Toot.Wales and I chose that server because I was moving to Wales and wanted to connect with some of the local community and also be exposed to Welsh issues and relevant discussions. The server is also inclusive, safe and well moderated – things which are important to me. You can read their commitments here.
Don’t just go where your friends are!
While I know the desire to hang out with your friends is strong – you can do that and be on different servers (or even different platforms!), so don’t let your friends influence your decision.
If they’re on a great server that they love, that’s awesome, check it out, but they might have totally different priorities to you when it comes to what they’re looking for in a Mastodon server.
Maybe your friend who is super into Queer, furry art is in love with the server they chose and says it’s the best place on the entire internet – but you’re friends because you both love DnD and Queer furry art isn’t really your jam. That’s cool, you can find a lovely TTRPG server, or a chill homemaking one, or one for Queer folks who aren’t artistic because yes, we do exist.
So which server do you choose?
That’s entirely up to you. Once you know what you’re looking for, you can search the options on places like Fedi Garden or the entire list here.
And always keep in mind that if you choose a server and it doesn’t fit what you’re looking for, you can move! You’re not making a long term commitment, you’re not locked in for life, or even for a single day. You can pick up your account and move to a new server whenever you want and keep all your followers, follows, bookmarks, lists, mutes, blocks and domain blocks.
If you want to chat about your specific needs and what server might work for you, I’ve been giving some recommendations to people over on my Patreon, it’s a pay what you can model so you can join for as little as £1 per month.
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