Here's my first Mastodon post!

[njsg@mementomori.social]

@gelbphoenix @hpod16 @karlos It's sad how this is an aspect of the Web - and also of the Internet - that ends up having to be highlighted an explained in 2026.

But that's the point we're at, where a bunch of commercial services make it easy not to be aware of what the Internet actually is.

(But hey, explaining it at least opens the door to mentioning another very nice thing: open protocols!)

[milesizdead@mementomori.social]

@hpod16 @nihkeys Yeah it’s like a mix of a video game forum and early Twitter, great stuff. Following and blocking hashtags makes it easy to find new people to follow and keeps your blood pressure lower 😂

[kallekn@mastodonsweden.se]

@hpod16 It's easy. If European politicians start posting on fediverse first, X last or not at all, journalists will follow, and other people too.

[leanderlindahl@mastodon.social]

@kallekn @hpod16 💯

[robbe_duesseldorf@mastodon.social]

@hpod16
Welcome to the fediverse 😊

[0xtero@ohai.social]

@hpod16 Get politicians to move here. Journalists will follow. Mainstream folks won't come here before we have companies, brands and influencers and even in that case, it's probably through something like Threads. They're hooked on ads and outrage algorithms.

[enea90@mastodon.social]

@hpod16 I think being content on the Fediverse that people actually like to watch and enjoy would definitely give more people incentive to come and hang out here. That includes video content on Fedi-based video sharing platforms, such as PeerTube and Loops. There are people like us that support the Fediverse for what it stands for, but most "regular" people will join it out of sheer personal interest.

[jowa@mastodon.nu]

@hpod16 Välkommen! 🍵 👋 🌻

[enea90@mastodon.social]

@hpod16 The Fediverse is still in its infancy stage. In order to grow it still needs our support. As its platforms become more mature, more people will join, hence creating a virtous circle. And more people joining will create a sense of community and belonging, which in itself will give even more people incentive to join.

[gagagoogle@mastodon.social]

@BrennpunktUA @hpod16 Even if Mastodon itself does not sell, track or monitor - anyone could (since it's all out in the open as you stated before. No need for an account even.)

And I beg to differ about the likeliness of a take over by "fascists"/malicious actors. Not as in server take over, but in "join and spam" or "join and deceive"-runs, the operation financed by e.g. big tech

I think that WILL happen when Mastodon reaches a critical mass, and the @Mastodon developers need to be prepared.

[stevethompson@mastodon.social]

@hpod16

Good music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nXi9zueZhY

[seindal@mastodon.social]

@kallekn @hpod16

Exactly. The EU should lead, not follow.

[hpod16@eupolicy.social]

@djoerd thank you!

[hpod16@eupolicy.social]

@kallekn
Well, here's a start: @HennaVirkkunen

This is the account of the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, on the official EC instance.

More to come? we'll see...

[echopapa@social.tchncs.de]

@hpod16

likely the same way as during the last 30 years: If enough "big players" move to a new social network, their peer groups will also move.

Main problem for marketing in the Fediverse:

no amplifying algorithms
no ads you can buy

And we like to talk and discuss a lot, and perhaps you can sell a thing you create, because people are interested, but "BUY MY SHINY PRODUCT" doesn't work well.

[hpod16@eupolicy.social]

@SteveThompson good morning and thanks for the music!

Refreshing that YouTube embeds over here... I remember when Facebook used to do this.

[random_sapiens@mastodon-belgium.be]

@hpod16 welcome, great to have you on the fediverse!

[hpod16@eupolicy.social]

@gagagoogle @Mastodon
But how? How can developers prepare for a fascist take-over?
Better mod services? Algorithms that don't polarise? What else?

[kallekn@mastodonsweden.se]

@hpod16 @HennaVirkkunen Yes, a very good start, even though the instance name is a bit clunky and bureaucratic.

😄

[hpod16@eupolicy.social]

@echopapa
I only just realised I haven't seen a single ad on here yet! How refreshing.

I think Marketing is a problem. No big company behind Mastodon means no big marketing budget, means less people hear about the company.

I'm doing my bit, spreading by word of mouth.

Everytime I see someone complain that there is no European Social media in the comments sections of the EU accounts, I point them to the EC Mastodon. It's a start, but you need celebrities on board, really.