= Mastodon for Twitter users

If you're switching from Twitter to the open source social network Mastodon, then there are some differences in the design and interface you need to be aware of.
Some common functions you're used to on Twitter are done slightly differently on Mastodon.
It's probably not a question of whether you can do a thing, but a question of where in the Mastodon interface you do it.

== Signing up

Twitter is exactly one site, but Mastodon is lots of sites networked (or "federated") together through the ActivityPub protocol.
ActivityPub is actually a lot more than _just_ Mastodon.
There are ActivityPub sites for photo streams, video sharing, and much more, but that's a topic for a different article.
For Mastodon, you can go to http:?/mastodon.social[Mastodon.social] and click the *Create account* button on the right side of the screen.

Alternately, go to https://joinmastodon.org/servers[JoinMastodon.org] 
You can sign up on Mastodon.social, or you can click *Find another server] in an attempt to surround yourself with people with similar interests.
You're never limited to the server you sign up with, but if you sign up with a topic-specific server then you're probably joining a community with similar interests to your own.

== Your Mastodon handle

On Twitter, there was only one server and it was Twitter.com.
On Mastodon, a user might be on any one of many servers, so when you ask for someone's Mastodon handle, you're asking for two pieces of information: their handle and their server.
It usually looks something like `@tux@mastodon.example.com` (assuming `mastodon.example.com` is a real site.)

You can see your own Mastodon handle by clicking your own avatar in the Mastodon web interface.

== Follow another user

You might find and follow friends on Mastodon in three different ways:

* Obtain your friend's Mastodon handle and Mastodon instance
* Click on your friend's avatar in the Mastodon interface
* Navigate to your friend's Mastodon instance

Here's a look at how each option works.

=== Follow a friend by handle

If a friend gives you their Mastodon handle, then you can search for it in your Mastodon instance and then follow them.

image:mastodon-search.webp[Use the search field in Mastodon to find your friends.]

== Follow a friend by discovery

If you see someone posting on Mastodon and you decide you'd like to see more of their content, you can click on their avatar or handle to get more information about them.

image:mastodon-post.webp[Click on an avatar or handle when you see an interesting post.]

In the user's profile, click the *Follow* button to start following them.

image:mastodon-follow.webp[The Follow button makes sure you see future posts made by that user.]

== Follow a friend from their server

When you sign up for Mastodon, you get a profile page on your Mastodon server.
The address of your profile page is your Mastodon handle, inverted.
For instance, if your handle is `@tux@mastodon.example.com` then your profile page is `mastodon.example.com/@tux`.

People can follow you by navigating to your profile page and clicking the *Follow* button.

== Like or favorite a post

On Twitter, you liked a post.
On Mastodon, you favorite a post by clicking the star icon below the post's content.

image:favorite-button.webp[Favorite a post by clicking the star icon.]

== Boost a post

On Twitter, you "re-tweet" a post.
On Mastodon, you "boost" a post by clicking the double-arrow icon below the post's content.

image:boost-button.webp[Boost a post by clicking the double-arrow icon.]

== Message a user privately (DM)

To message a user privately (called a direct message or DM on Twitter), click the *Globe* icon when you're composing your message.

image:mastodon-dm.webp[Click the globe icon while composing a message.]

The globe icon sets the privacy of a post.
You have four options:

* *Public*: Everyone in the world can see your post.
* *Unlisted*: Everyone on Mastodon can see your post, but only with a direct link to the post.
* *Followers only*: Only people following you can see your post.
* *Mentioned people only*: Only a user you @-mention in your post can see the post. This is a direct or private message.

== Include a friend on a thread

Sometimes you see a thread of posts that you think a friend might enjoy.
You can bring the thread to your friend's attention by replying the post, and then mentioning your friend.
This does include them almost-permanently to the thread, so use this sparingly.

A better way to alert a friend of a thread is to get a link to the thread, and refer your friend to it.
To get the direct link to a public post, click the ellipsis button under the post content and select *Copy link to post*.

image:mastodon-link.webp[Click the ellipsis icon to obtain a direct link to a post.]

== Settings

Twitter had exactly one interface.
Mastodon has two user interfaces: the default web interface and the advanced web interface.

image:mastodon-single-column.webp[The default UI displays a single column.]

The simple interface is a single column view that shows activity from the people you follow.
To see notifications or the activity of all Mastodon instances, there are links on the right side of the page.

Click on the disclosure triangle to the right of your name to go open your Mastodon preferences.
In the preferences panel, set your UI to advanced mode.

image:mastodon-preferences.webp[Activate the advanced view in Mastodon preferences.]

The advanced interface is a multi-column layout that displays activity from the people you follow, personal notifications, and further options.

image:mastodon-advanced.webp[The advanced web UI displays multiple columns.]

== Join the decentralized web

Mastodon is one big component in an even larger trend of reclaiming space on the internet allowing for unique points of view free of algorithmic promotion and advertising.
Instead, you get open source and full user control.
Join Mastodon.
