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An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon (www.staygrounded.online)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by lgsp@feddit.it to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

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I think this is the way we should communicate, when presented with the question on how to get on Mastodon:

Copy paste from the link:

How do I use Mastodon?

Download the Mastodon app from the Apple app store or Play store.

Create an account (just like Twitter or any other social media)

Follow people, and get posting.

Why do tech journalists say it’s too confusing to catch on?

I have no fucking idea.

EDIT for clarification, don't take this too seriously:

This “guide” is a bit of a joke made out of frustration. If you actually want to know more, including why I feel it has potential to free us from the dystopian hellscape that is modern social media, here is the “real” guide to Mastodon. It still uses simple language (and has lots of pictures!):

Please share widely

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[-] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 19 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It’s not that simple and I don’t get why people pretend it is. The “instance” concept confuses everyone. The email comparison everyone uses is inadequate.

Edit: The issue is incredibly fundamental. You don’t just download the app, create an account, and go.
You download an app that lets you participate, then you need to decide your instance which is like deciding which specific browser you want tonuse that then lets you see individual communities. But also your instance might have a community with the exact same name as a community in another instance, so make sure you know the difference despite both of them being “news“ or “politics.“ Also all the different instances have different nuances to their federation and voting that you may or may not see, unless you are familiar with how each instance operates.

[-] Kirk@startrek.website 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

When using the official Mastodon app (as suggested in the "guide") "instances" are not a factor at all (unless the user specifically goes out of their way). A new user could have never even heard of the term "instance" and the above steps would work fine.

You don’t just download the app, create an account, and go.

Actually with Mastodon this is literally how it works.

EDIT: I should say this is how it works now, it didn't always used to be this way. The official Mastodon app used to ask the user to pick an instance, but for a number of years now it defaults every new account to mastodon.social unless they opt out. There was a big brouhah about centralization but the Mastodon devs felt it made for easier on boarding.