Mastodon, the decentralized alternative to Twitter, has rolled out pretty big changes in version 4.4, and it’s a huge improvement for user experience and accessibility. Of course, the biggest additions are in the spotlight. You can now pin posts, depending on the new Media Player, and use the new Quote Post feature to make it easier to avoid online harassment. These adjustments are part of Mastodon’s ongoing series of updates designed to encourage new users to find their place in this community-focused platform.
In this most recent addition, Mastodon gives users the ability to pin up to five posts at the top of their profiles. All of these posts are featured in a fun, interactive carousel format. This new feature allows creators to pin their best content, making sure it’s front and center for their followers. By promoting certain posts, users have the power to meaningfully curate their impressions and interactions on the app.
The update brings a significant redesign of Mastodon’s media player. The new design puts a big emphasis on usability, with the play and pause buttons near the center of the screen for quick access. The media player has hotkeys for seeking, volume control, and entering fullscreen mode! This provides an exciting new way for users to interact with all kinds of multimedia content!
One of the most notable additions in this version is the rollout of the Quote Post feature. This feature lets any user quote someone else’s post with their own commentary above it. This feature increases excitement and draws users in more than any other functionality of the platform. At the same time, it protects against abuse of quoting to spread hate speech and harassment. With a priority on nurturing rich conversations, Mastodon is dedicated to building a welcoming online experience.
Mastodon has made its onboarding a lot simpler too, cutting onboarding down from four steps to only two. This is a welcome change that clears a path for new users to get up and running. It invites them to sign up and immediately start interacting with their new platform. Mastodon has changed the name of its “Explore” tab to “Trending.” This new update helps simplify the process for users to see what is trending as the most engaging content across their entire network.
Further enhancing navigation, Mastodon has organized its sidebar controls into three distinct sections: main navigation buttons, curated content, and other elements. We hope that this reorganization will create a simpler and more intuitive experience for users, making it easier to find and access new features and functionalities.
Additionally, Mastodon has made it easier for users to create and customize their Lists. Adding or removing users is a breeze from within their profile. It’s really easy to customize your Following and Followers listings in a few simple clicks. This revision simplifies how user connections to other users and organizations are managed on the platform, making for a better user experience.
In a major structural move, Mastodon has recently set up a new non-profit organization in Europe. The idea behind this transition is to move away from reliance on one “superman” figure. It lays the groundwork for Maston’s long term growth and sustainability. The firm has recently been making overtures to provide more commercial services, in the company’s ongoing efforts to boost revenue.
Mastodon’s collaboration with the European Commission’s Mastodon instance suggests a promising direction for the company. This partnership will allow the continued evolution of its platform and help ensure it fits within a wider regulatory and operational environment in Europe.