Mastodon

Mastodon is a decentralized, open-source social networking platform launched in 2016 by developer Eugen Rochko. Unlike traditional social media sites, Mastodon operates on a federated model, meaning it's made up of independently run servers (called instances) that interconnect. Users join a specific instance but can interact across the entire network, similar to email. Designed as an alternative to platforms like Twitter (X), Mastodon focuses on privacy, community control, and chronological timelines without ads or algorithmic feeds. Posts (called “toots”) can include text, images, videos, and polls, with content moderation handled individually by each server. Though smaller in scale, with over 1.7 million monthly active users, Mastodon has gained popularity among users seeking a more open and community-driven social media experience—especially during times of turbulence on mainstream platforms.