Mastodon

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Mastodon is

A free, open-source social network software based on ActivityPub
A network of independent social media sites powered by Mastodon

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Registrations for 'mastodon.social' are often closed, but you can learn more about Mastodon and register with another instance at joinmastodon.org. It doesn't matter which instance you register on - you can still follow anyone on any instance.

If you are looking for service providers that can host and manage an instance for you:

founded 1 year ago

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A better way to monetize Mastodon? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by -Yandjin-@alien.top to c/mastodon

32 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Cosmetics.

Let's offer paid cosmetics for users of your instance. Animated or custom banners, posts, new themes, etc.

It's a model that works really well for Discord and League of Legends. Instances offering to sell aesthetic luxury to their user base could work for Mastodon too.

It's non-invasive, it's optional, it's a great addition for some people, and it allows to raise funds to keep the hosted instances up and running.

Do you think it's viable?

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[–] stijnhommes@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Are you serious? Mastodon doesn't need to be monetized to begin with.

[–] ghost_desu@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Any non-free service needs to monetize to scale. Hobbyists paying out of pocket can only take it so far. Though it seems half of fedi users don't care to grow it to begin with

[–] stijnhommes@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I see monetizing as something different from covering cost.

I agree that costs need to be covered somehow, but monetization is about making MORE money than is actually needed to run the platform and that is definitely the Achilles heel of existing social media that doesn't need to be carried over to Mastodon.

[–] ericdano@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It does though. Someone has to pay for the hosting costs. And the domain (yearly) cost.

As an instance runner, it isn't a LOT of money, but still, it is money. It DOES cost to run an instance, and donations/sponsorships are nice to help defer the costs.

[–] Beardedgeek72@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

This is what donation drives are for.

On the instance I am on the admin currently have collected enough last donation drive to run the server for three years.

Mastodon is an open source Free-As-in-Freedom non profit project. That is the POINT of it.