Since I’ve been on Lemmy, I don’t know what my use is for Mastodon anymore. It’s dead on there anyway. I don’t have anyone to talk to and nobody responds to my posts.
Mastodon is “dead” because you’re not making the switch from spoon-fed algorithmically-supplied content to content you have to actively seek out. Mastodon supplies tools for this, but if these aren’t for you, then yes, Mastodon is useless to you.
To make Mastodon “not dead” you have to take some actions of your own to become part, in effect, of an actual community. These steps helped me:
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Follow some #hashtags of interest. As you find people posting interesting content on that hashtag, follow them. Engage with some of those directly, responding to their posts. Do this for a couple of weeks and you’ll have a full feed.
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Occasionally look into the local feed. Skip over stuff that bores you. Read stuff that interests you. If you see the same names making interesting content, follow them. Also, engage with the stuff that interests you by responding to posts.
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Make content as well as the replies mentioned above. Apply relevant #hashtags so it’s findable. But keep in mind that the system is not going to stuff this in other people’s feeds on your behalf. This isn’t Twitter or any other corporate microblogging setup. You need to get followers, which you can get by following steps 1 and 2. Otherwise you’re just going to get the occasional person seeing your posts who is doing step 2.
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Boost boost boost boost boost. There’s no algorithm cramming posts into other people’s feeds. The only way things go “viral” in Mastodon is if people spread it around. You have to be part of the process instead of abrogating that to an algorithm designed to foster “engagement” by spreading dissent and hate.
I’ll make more of an effort to do that, although I’m still skeptical about the amount of content I’ll see.
In the end it still may not be for you, and I’d like to stress this right now: that’s perfectly fine. Not every platform is for every user. If Lemmy serves your needs better, use Lemmy over Mastodon! It’s awesome!
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I felt like this the first time I made an account, but that’s because no one told me I had to follow hashtags, and I only used the official app where you can’t even do that!
But now I know all that and I’m using a third-party app, my experience is much better. For example, I posted a question about a book series last night, added all the relevant hashtags and then this morning had about 8 or 9 replies from people all helping with my question.
We’re so used to algorithms and being able to just search for particular keywords which will then show up that we’ve forgotten how social media used to work.
I’m using the default mastodon app and I don’t have much replies too. May I know what 3rd party app you’re using?
I’m using Tusky on Android. More features and more customisable to how I want it.
If you’re on iOS, I’m not sure what apps are available on there.
Yeah I saw those 2 also. I might try ivory though. It comes highly recommended but downside is it’s a subscription service. I don’t mind paying but I hope there is one that I can pay just one time.
Let’s see
Yeah you assumed correctly, I’m on IOS. Still searching the perfect app though. I love the idea of federation and won’t give up on mastodon just yet.
The only two iOS ones I’ve heard of are Ice Cubes and Ivory.
No idea whether they’re any good though, I’ve just seen them pop up on Mastodon.
I can recommend Tusky, easy and simple. Otherwise Fedilab is nice too. Both for Android and available on f-droid.
Dead?? Goodness - I love Lemmy and I’m working hard on the community I’m building but Mastodon is jamming! I’ve got like 200k followers on IG and only about 700 followers on Mastodon and the convos and engagements blow away IG!
My thing is follow follow follow and then favorite, reblog, and reply! Been amazing.
I started following people I found elsewhere, then followed people they boosted until my feed had enough volume. Since I mostly consume content and don’t post much, that has been working for me. It does take some figuring out and blocking people (like some on this thread) who’ll act like you’re not supposed to be there if it isn’t all obvious to you (it really isn’t to anyone). If you like both lemmy and twitter (X) it might be worth giving masto another shot.
I’ve not posted much on Mastodon, but I used a couple of hashtags and an interested-based group that automatically boosts any post you tag it in and I’ve gotten some people to respond! But yeah Lemmy and Mastodon are pretty different ways of interacting with people so I can see how you might like one more than another.
I follow some pages on there.
I saw a lot of comments about hashtags to follow. It’s right. You must follow them to find people to follow.
But, it’s missing a part of how to find people to follow. Boosting is essential. A way to boost automatically a toot is to use groups. You mention the group about the topic and your toot will be boosted. You need to follow these groups to find people. You feed will be less empty by following groups.
could Lemmy extend its functionality and UI to essentially become an active part of Mastodon?
it’s almost the same tech, no?
That’s Kbin
oh sick that’s something i would love to see in Lemmy to expand the Mastodoniverse
I basically used twitter for news some update and a couple of writers and actors accounts. Mastodon lack a bit of variety right now but you can find tons of content from users pages.
Interesting, I joined recently, followed a couple of people and hashtags, posted and got responses which I didn’t expect as I was there for a day.
Ok, don’t use it, easy.
