If you have any questions about Mastodon or the rest of the Fediverse, please feel free to ask!
This is a human being typing this, it's not a bot account. I mainly set this account up to help people directly.
Any question is fine, don't be afraid of it sounding too basic or silly 🙂
reshared this
Lee from Colorado
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Lee from Colorado • • •@colo_lee
Aww, cheers! Really appreciated! 🙏
Paul Förster :verified_blue:
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Paul Förster :verified_blue: • • •Paul Förster :verified_blue:
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Axel Rauschmayer
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •django
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to django • • •Obviously spamming a bad idea, but specific rules about what exactly is spam would depend on the server.
For example some servers forbid any kind of self-promotion, even for indie artists trying to make a living by selling art. Other servers would be fine with this as long as they're not spamming other people's threads with it or using irrelevant tags etc.
django
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •yeah this is a case that came up recently.
Indie artists advertising into an unrelated hashtag!
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to django • • •@django
It's kind of difficult to comment without seeing the specific example in question?
django
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •A. J. Greengrove
in reply to django • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to A. J. Greengrove • • •@ajgreengrove @django
Yeah, this is a problem as people are encouraged to use hashtags as much as possible, but also told not to use too many.
My personal take is that it's okay to use lots of tags which relate to your post, but others might prefer to have a maximum number of tags.
The maximum number of tags is sort of unclear, maybe partly because it depends on what the post is about? Some posts might cover a lot more topics than others.
Sorry I can't help more! 😦
A. J. Greengrove
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •mk30
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to mk30 • • •@mk30
No, it's not possible, at least not on servers running Mastodon.
MAB
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to MAB • • •Yes! Each device gets its own access token when you log in with it.
(You can also be logged in with multiple apps on the same device, or multiple accounts on the same app.)
Gonzalo
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Gonzalo • • •@Gonzalo
Pretty much all Mastodon apps let you log in with multiple accounts at once, usually using an account switching button (on the official apps this in the bottom right corner).
You can also use PixelFed accounts via Mastodon apps, although the PixelFed-only features wouldn't be accessible.
So, you should be able to log in on Ice Cubes with your PixelFed account while also be logged in with your Mastodon account?
Gonzalo
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Gonzalo • • •Hmm... 🤔
First, you could try logging in with your Pixelfed on the official Mastodon app. If that works, then the problem is with Ice Cubes.
If there's the same problem on the official Mastodon app too, then the problem may be on the Pixelfed server.
That particular Pixelfed server is running a slightly older version of the software (v0.12), maybe it needs to update to the latest release version (v0.12.4)?
EDIT: Also worth updating the apps too, just in case.
Gonzalo
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
Unknown parent • • •@Sonar888
I'm really sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking? 😦 Could you explain a bit more?
RealGene ☣️
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Would you kindly point me to a tutorial (with examples!) for using markup on Mastodon?
All searching has gotten me is that markup is supported (sometimes), but not *which* markup.
I'm not even sure if my server supports it.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to RealGene ☣️ • • •Standard Mastodon (aka "vanilla Mastodon") will display rich text in other posts but doesn't let you create it.
Variations of Mastodon such as Glitch and some non-Mastodon Fediverse servers do let you create it, which is why you can sometimes see it on your timeline.
Your server runs standard Mastodon so it doesn't support creating it.
There's a complete guide to the situation of Mastodon and rich text / markup / markdown here:
fedi.tips/is-mastodon-compatib…
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Unknown parent • • •@Sonar888
Ah, okay, that!
I'm not sure what the trick used is, maybe you should message them directly? Sorry I can't help more.
Martin
Unknown parent • • •I would guess a Unicode character? Don't know for sure though, there's lots.
@FediTips
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Martin • • •@slowmart @Sonar888
Yeah it will be a trick with some kind of character I think?
However, it may cause accessibility problems if you use it a lot. It might be best to just use it in one-off posts rather than usernames?
People who use screen readers hear awful gibberish when the reader app tries to interpret unusual characters used for visual effect.
Uri
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Filtered word: nsfw
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Uri • • •@uri
Usually server rules either ban NSFW or allow it behind a content warning.
If the unwanted content is coming from a small number of accounts I'd suggest muting or blocking them. If they're posting content that is problematic, it would be a good idea to report it by clicking ⋯ below the post.
If the unwanted content is coming from many accounts from a single server, you might want to let your server admin know as they may be able to silence or block it.
Uri
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Christoph Schmees
in reply to Uri • • •Filtered word: nsfw
Doesn't filtering # nsfw and correspondig do the job? I for one just filter hashtags that annoy me.
@FediTips
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Christoph Schmees • • •Really excellent point. If they tag it NSFW this would indeed be the best way to filter it out, yes!
I was assuming it was irresponsible posting, but yeah responsible posters of NSFW would do this!
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Unknown parent • • •@noctilua @Sonar888
Ah yeah of course, it could be that, custom emoji can be animated.
They're not always reliable when used in profile names though.
⊢≪ Noctilua ≫⊣
Unknown parent • • •It looks like those are just custom emojis they put in their names. You should ask your admin to add it to your instance if you want that too.
Valente Espinosa
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •jezebelley
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to jezebelley • • •@jezebelley
Fedi is people, Bluesky is a corporation.
Almost all Fedi servers are owned and run by ordinary people and grassroots non-profits. Fedi servers are fully independent and anyone can start one.
Bluesky is owned by a for-profit corporation run by cryptocurrency people. Bluesky doesn't have independent servers, it has a centralised corporate infrastructure through which everything flows. It's structured to prevent servers being independent.
🌈 Kevin Bowersox 🖖
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to 🌈 Kevin Bowersox 🖖 • • •Servers on Bluesky cannot communicate with each other at all. They can only communicate with relays, and then the relays (if they feel like it) will pass it on to other servers. Relays are very expensive to run, AFAIK there is only one relay at the moment, which is owned by the Bluesky corporation.
On the Fediverse, it's much simpler: servers communicate directly with other servers and don't need to connect to any kind of relay. Fedi servers are independent.
🌈 Kevin Bowersox 🖖 likes this.
🌈 Kevin Bowersox 🖖 reshared this.
🚎🏳️🌈Pollute_my_lungs
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to 🚎🏳️🌈Pollute_my_lungs • • •@pollute_my_lungs
The public feed, yes! Usually if you go to a server's website you can click on "🌎 Live Feeds" and it will show you the server's public feed.
Some apps also let you follow the live feeds of other servers. More info at:
fedi.tips/how-do-i-browse-the-…
Uncle Josh
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Uncle Josh • • •@UncleJosh
If a server goes down, other servers will wait and retry later if they can't get a response now. When it comes back online the server will start catching up on the posts it had missed. (This is also how email servers work, by the way.)
If it's down permanently then that's a problem, but that's why it's important to join a server which promises to give lots of warning if they intend to close down. This gives time to move your account elsewhere.
More info at fedi.tips/what-if-a-server-clo…
Uncle Josh
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Uncle Josh • • •@UncleJosh
Thanks for the feedback.
I've tweaked the article a little bit to hopefully make it appear in searches for the topics you raised.
SpacePatriot
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to SpacePatriot • • •@spacepatriot
That sounds like you're looking for a peer-to-peer distributed network rather than a federated network?
Scuttlebutt and its spin-off project @manyver_se are based on that idea, but due to technical and privacy barriers they still need to use servers to connect people. You can find out more at manyver.se
They're not part of the Fediverse as they use a very very different protocol, but it sounds like a better match for what you're asking about?
SpacePatriot
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to SpacePatriot • • •@spacepatriot
Ah okay, maybe we are talking at cross purposes? 🙂
On the Fediverse, the term "server" and "instance" mean the same thing, so a single-user instance would be the same thing as a single-user server.
At a technical level there wouldn't be any difference between a server/instance owned by one person or several people.
If you're asking about lightweight server/instance Fediverse software, something like GoToSocial is very lightweight? There's more info at gotosocial.org
Danny Boling ☮️
in reply to SpacePatriot • • •@spacepatriot
I think what you're looking for is how to set up a single-user instance: an instance for one person, using a custom URL, so they are in total control of content and moderation.
If so then you're in luck. First, this isn't difficult; in fact it's very popular.
You're also in luck because I believe @feditips (using a different account) offers managed instances where an admin does all the technical stuff, letting you focus only on the content:
social.growyourown.services/@h…
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Danny Boling ☮️ • • •Danny Boling ☮️
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •@spacepatriot
Oh, I'm so sorry! I hope I haven't caused any confusion. Thank you for pointing that out!
And thank you for being so dang helpful too. Your q&a posts are my favorite. I read read those top to bottom. You provide a fantastic and unique service to the whole Fediverse and I hope people show their appreciation for you!
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Danny Boling ☮️ • • •@IAmDannyBoling @spacepatriot
No no, don't worry! 🙂
And... heck, thank you so much for the really kind words! It makes it feel worthwhile if these posts and guides are useful 😊
Danny Boling ☮️
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •I've been here two years and I'm still learning. Largely from you!
@spacepatriot
wonkothesane
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to wonkothesane • • •@wonkothesane
Are you wanting to set up your own server, so you have control over moderation? Here are some reasons why it's a good idea:
growyourown.services/why-growi…
There are some tips on organisations running their own server here:
fedi.tips/how-can-organisation…
There's also a more general guide to making your own server here:
growyourown.services/making-yo…
"Org is a child-focused NFP, so moderation is an issue""
Sorry if I'm misunderstanding, but I wouldn't recommend kids being on social networks?
wonkothesane
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Oh no, we don’t want kids there!! The ideal user would be described as “Donor”.
(…and thank you!)
Mastodon Migration
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Mastodon Migration • • •@mastodonmigration
Aww, cheers! 😊 You too!
Khaled Gaiji
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Khaled Gaiji • • •@kgaiji
There isn't an account as far as I know. However, the text on my site is available under creative commons and there have been a couple of French language guides published based on the text:
enthalpiste.fr/index.php/fedi-…
didiermary.fr/sommaire-du-guid…
Khaled Gaiji
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Louis
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Louis • • •@louischance
I think it would be similar in visibility whether you're starting your own or joining one. Most of your potential audience will be on non-PeerTube Fediverse platforms, especially Mastodon.
If you want to promote your PeerTube videos, it's a good idea to boost them from your existing account on piaille.fr. Most of the popular PeerTube accounts have main non-video accounts on Mastodon etc where they post about their topic as well as promoting their videos.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •@louischance
p.s. Let me know if you do publish tutorials, I run an account at @FediVideo and a site at fedi.video which promotes nice content on PeerTube.
Louis
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •I understood that an instance gets federated as soon as a user from another account has interacted with some of its content (liking it for example), so I guess ultimately visibility mostly depends on sharing the content through other networks like Mastodon.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Louis • • •@louischance
The federation on Mastodon etc depends on people from other instances following your PeerTube account (not the channel, it has to be the account people follow to trigger federation).
So, as a first step encourage your existing followers on Mastodon to also follow your PeerTube account, and then after a few people have done this you can upload your first videos.
If you upload videos before anyone has followed your PT account, they will not be visible anywhere on Mastodon etc.
Louis
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Louis • • •@louischance
Aww, thank you! Very kind!
gunstick
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •I was annoyed by the "load more" feature to put my reading position at the top of the newly loaded toots.
So now I use megalodon, which works fine.
Question: why do I need to click to load more? Can't the client click fo me?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to gunstick • • •@gunstick
If this message is at the top of the screen, it could be you're in slow mode.
You can switch this off by going to ⚙️ Preferences > UN-tick slow mode > Click Save Changes
gunstick
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to gunstick • • •@gunstick
Ahh okay, I thought you meant you were using the website. Which app are you using that you had the problem on?
Auden in Austria Digital
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Auden in Austria Digital • • •@AAD_OeAW
To keep instance costs low, instances only notice remote posts and accounts that have some kind of connection to your instance.
There are things you can do to increase the number of posts and accounts your instance has noticed. Some of these can be done by users, others require action by your instance admin:
fedi.tips/using-relays-to-quic…
El Duvelle
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to El Duvelle • • •@elduvelle
Thank you for the kind words! 😊
Bernie the Wordsmith
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Bernie the Wordsmith • • •@berniethewordsmith
Thank you, really good to hear that! 🙏
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Unknown parent • • •@magitian @gunstick
Oooh wait... don't use Megalodon, it isn't maintained any more.
If you want alternatives to Moshidon, you might want Tusky, Fedilab or Tooot instead.
Jos_B
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Dirk
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Dirk • • •@dirk
If you can't log in, the first person to ask would be your server's admin. They should be able to advise you if there's a problem with the server?
Afif
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to Afif • • •@afif
Mastodon is apparently the favourite band of the lead developer - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon…
(I think they somewhat denied this later though.)
fede
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •B4evrmee
in reply to Fedi.Tips 🎄 • • •Is it okay if I cite Feditips on Threads and Bluesky?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
in reply to B4evrmee • • •@B4evrmee
Yeah, totally fine! 👍
And thanks for the kind words 😃