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| {{Short description|Open source social media service}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox software|name=Mastodon|logo=Mastodon wordmark light 2022.svg|logo size=250px|screenshot=Mastodon homepage – 28 June 2025.png|caption=Trending page as of June 2025|author=[[Eugen Rochko]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Lekach |first=Sasha |title=The coder who built Mastodon is 24, fiercely independent, and doesn't care about money |work=Mashable |date=6 April 2018 |url=https://mashable.com/2017/04/06/eugen-rochko-mastodon-interview |access-date=6 November 2019 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407183803/https://mashable.com/2017/04/06/eugen-rochko-mastodon-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>|developer=Mastodon gGmbH<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://joinmastodon.org/about|title=The company behind Mastodon|website=joinmastodon.org|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506214831/https://joinmastodon.org/about|url-status=live}}</ref>|released={{start date and age|2016|3|16|df=yes}}<ref name="Launch date">{{cite web|title=v0.1.0|url=https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/releases/tag/v0.1.0|date=16 Mar 2016|via=[[GitHub]]|access-date=18 July 2019|archive-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330180131/https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/releases/tag/v0.1.0|url-status=live}}</ref>|ver layout=stacked|latest release version={{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}}|latest release date={{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}|df=yes}}|latest preview version=4.4.0-rc1|latest preview date={{Start date and age|df=yes|2025|07|01}}|programming language=[[Ruby on Rails]], [[JavaScript]] ([[React.js]], [[Redux (JavaScript library)|Redux]])|operating system=[[Cross-platform software|Cross-platform]]|platform=[[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Linux]], [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]], [[macOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]]|standard=ActivityPub|language count=93|language footnote=<ref>English plus 92 translations listed in
| | {{Infobox software |
| {{cite web|url=https://crowdin.com/project/mastodon|title=Mastodon translations in Crowdin|work=[[Crowdin]]|access-date=8 November 2022|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712145143/https://crowdin.com/project/mastodon|url-status=live}}</ref>|genre=[[Microblogging]]|license=[[GNU Affero General Public License|AGPLv3+]]<ref>{{cite web |title=mastodon/mastodon |url=https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon |publisher=Mastodon |date=5 November 2022 |access-date=5 November 2022 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711225726/https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon |url-status=live }}</ref>|website={{official URL}}}}
| | | name = Shemp |
| [[index.php?title=File:Mastodon_mascot_vector_version.svg|link=File:Mastodon_mascot_vector_version.svg|alt=A cartoon Mastodon mascot|thumb|The mascot of the Mastodon social network]]
| | | logo = [[File:Placeholder.png|thumb]] |
| '''Mastodon''' is a [[free and open-source software]] platform for [[decentralized social networking]] with [[microblogging]] features similar to [[Twitter]]. It operates as a [[Federation (information technology)|federated network]] of independently managed servers that communicate using the [[ActivityPub]] protocol, allowing users to connect across different instances within the [[Fediverse]]. Each Mastodon instance establishes its own moderation policies and content guidelines, distinguishing it from centrally controlled social media platforms.
| | | author = vhsthetic |
| | | | developer = usansin |
| First released in 2016 by [[Eugen Rochko]], Mastodon has positioned itself as an alternative to mainstream social media, particularly for users seeking decentralized, community-driven spaces. The platform has experienced multiple surges in adoption, most notably following the [[Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk|Twitter acquisition by Elon Musk]] in 2022, as users sought alternatives to Twitter.<ref>{{cite arXiv|eprint=2309.12613|class=cs.SI|first1=Ujun|last1=Jeong|first2=Ayushi|last2=Nirmal|title=User Migration across Multiple Social Media Platforms|date=2023-09-22|last3=Jha|first3=Kritshekhar|last4=Tang|first4=Xu|last5=Bernard|first5=H. Russell|last6=Liu|first6=Huan}}</ref> It is part of a broader shift toward decentralized social networks, including [[Bluesky]] and [[Lemmy (social network)|Lemmy]].
| | | released = 12 February 2026 |
| | | | latest_release_version = 0.0 |
| Mastodon emphasizes user privacy and moderation flexibility, offering features such as granular post visibility controls, [[content warning]] options, and local community-driven moderation. The software is written in [[Ruby on Rails]] and [[Node.js]], with a web interface built using [[React (software)|React]] and [[Redux (JavaScript library)|Redux]]. It is interoperable with other ActivityPub-based platforms, such as [[Threads (social network)|Threads]], and supports various third-party applications on desktop and mobile devices.
| | | latest_release_date = 12 February 2026 |
| | | | programming_language = php, javascript |
| == Functionality ==
| | | operating_system = Cross-Platform |
| Users post short-form status messages, historically known as "toots",<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-11-15|title=Mastodon Has Officially Retired the 'Toot,' Its Version of the Tweet|url=https://gizmodo.com/mastodon-toot-retired-twitter-tweet-equivalent-1849786221|access-date=2023-06-02|website=Gizmodo|language=en|archive-date=16 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116033308/https://gizmodo.com/mastodon-toot-retired-twitter-tweet-equivalent-1849786221|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/makingsciencepublic/2022/11/11/its-not-a-retoot-is-it-moving-between-platforms-and-languages/|title='It's not a retoot is it?' Moving between platforms and languages|first=Brigitte|last=Nerlich|date=11 November 2022|website=Making Science Public|access-date=19 May 2024|archive-date=19 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519075752/https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/makingsciencepublic/2022/11/11/its-not-a-retoot-is-it-moving-between-platforms-and-languages/|url-status=live}}</ref> for others to see and interact with.
| | | platform = Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows |
| | | | genre = Web Directory |
| | | | license = AGPLv3 |
| === Organization ===
| | | website = https://usans.in/shemp3 |
| The project is maintained by the German [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] Mastodon [[gGmbH]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Will |title=The Man Behind Mastodon Built It for This Moment |url=https://www.wired.com/story/the-man-behind-mastodon-eugen-rochko-built-it-for-this-moment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308041903/https://www.wired.com/story/the-man-behind-mastodon-eugen-rochko-built-it-for-this-moment/ |archive-date=8 March 2023 |access-date=2023-03-05 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> and was headed by founder Eugen Rochko, who officially stepped down as CEO on 18 November 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-18 |title=My next chapter with Mastodon |url=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/my-next-chapter-with-mastodon/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=Mastodon Blog}}</ref> to be replaced by Felix Hlatky. The organisation chose to reward Rochko with a one-time compensation of 1 million Euro for his past contributions to the project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-18 |title=The Future is Ours to Build - Together |url=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/the-future-is-ours-to-build-together/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=Mastodon Blog}}</ref>
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| Mastodon was registered in Germany as a [[nonprofit organization]] ({{langx|de|gemeinnützige [[GmbH]]}}) between 2021 and 2024;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glanz |first=Berit |title=Twitter-Alternative: Wer steckt eigentlich hinter Mastodon? |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien/twitter-alternative-mastodon-wer-steckt-hinter-der-plattform-18450637.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116015943/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien/twitter-alternative-mastodon-wer-steckt-hinter-der-plattform-18450637.html |archive-date=16 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-14 |work=FAZ.NET |language=de |issn=0174-4909}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-28 |title=Mastodon is no longer a non-profit organisation in Germany |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Mastodon-Laut-Finanzamt-nicht-mehr-gemeinnuetzig-9701352.html |website=heise online |language=en}}</ref> a US nonprofit was established in April 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Perez |first1=Sarah |title=Twitter co-founder Biz Stone joins board of Mastodon's new US nonprofit |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/29/twitter-co-founder-biz-stone-joins-mastodons-new-u-s-non-profits-board/ |work=TechCrunch}}</ref> The organization started selling [[stuffed toy]]s of its mascot in October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2024-10-15 |title=X rival Mastodon has started selling toys |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/x-rival-mastodon-has-started-selling-toys/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109174412/https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/x-rival-mastodon-has-started-selling-toys/ |archive-date=9 November 2024 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
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| ==See also==
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| {{Portal|Internet|Free and open-source software}}
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| <!-- alphabetical order please [[WP:SEEALSO]] -->
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| <!-- please add a short description [[WP:SEEALSO]], via {{subst:AnnotatedListOfLinks}} or {{Annotated link}} -->
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| * {{Annotated link|Bluesky (social network)}}
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| * {{Annotated link|Comparison of microblogging services}}
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| * {{Annotated link|Comparison of software and protocols for distributed social networking}}
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| * {{Annotated link|Diaspora (social network)}}
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| * {{Annotated link|Fediverse}}
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| * {{Annotated link|Misskey}}
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| ==Further reading==
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| * Robert W. Gehl. 2025. ''[https://global.oup.com/academic/product/move-slowly-and-build-bridges-9780197776681 Move Slowly and Build Bridges: Mastodon, the Fediverse, and the Struggle for Democratic Social Media]''. Oxford University Press.
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist|refs=
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| <ref name="Engadget_after_Musks_Twitter_takeover">{{cite news | last1= Bell | first1= Karissa | title= After Musk's Twitter takeover, an open-source alternative is 'exploding' | date= 2022-04-27 | newspaper= [[Engadget]] | url= https://www.engadget.com/twitter-alternative-mastodon-open-source-021001965.html | access-date= 2022-04-27 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20220427205246/https://www.engadget.com/twitter-alternative-mastodon-open-source-021001965.html | archive-date= 27 April 2022 | url-status= live }}</ref>
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| <ref name="OKOpress_Musk_bought_Twitter">{{cite news | last1= Woźniak | first1= Michał rysiek | language= pl | title= Elon Musk kupił sobie Twittera. Czy "absolutysta wolności słowa" przywróci konto Trumpa? | trans-title= Elon Musk bought Twitter. Will the 'absolute defender of free speech' bring back Trump's account? | date= 2022-04-27 | newspaper= [[OKO.press]] | url= https://oko.press/musk-twittera-czy-przywroci-konto-trumpa | access-date= 2022-04-27 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20220427211157/https://oko.press/musk-twittera-czy-przywroci-konto-trumpa/ | archive-date= 27 April 2022 | url-status= live }}</ref>
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| ==External links==
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| {{sister project links|display=Mastodon|c=Category:Mastodon (social network)|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|s=no|wikt=no|d=Q27986619|q=no}}
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| * {{Official website}}
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| {{Fediverse}}
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| {{Online social networking}}
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| {{Microblogging}}
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| [[Category:2016 software]]
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| [[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
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| [[Category:Companies based in Thuringia]]
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| [[Category:Fediverse]]
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| [[Category:Free software programmed in JavaScript]]
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| [[Category:Free software programmed in Ruby]]
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| [[Category:Free software websites]]
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| [[Category:Microblogging software]]
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| [[Category:Social media]]
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| [[Category:Social networking services]]
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| [[Category:Software using the GNU Affero General Public License]]
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| [[Category:Web applications]]
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| [[Category:Software that federates via ActivityPub]]
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| [[Category:Distributed social networking]]
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