How to switch to Mastodon from Twitter now that it's X
Twitter – now known as X – is going through some turmoil at the moment...to say the least. Ever since the new "Chief Twit" took over, many advertisers and popular users have fled from the app, seeking greener pastures. With the competition at its weakest, many Twitter alternatives have stepped up to take the popular app's place. Apps like Bluesky Social, Cohost, B-Heard, and CounterSocial are offering new, safer spaces for users afraid of what "free speech" looks like on Twitter, however, the app gaining the most buzz as of late is Mastodon.
Mastodon is a decentralized social media app. Unlike the communal festival setting of Twitter, Mastodon operates more like a strip mall off I-85. The platform has a network of servers which are called "instances" that are managed by users, and that means it’s a bit trickier to sign up for — you have to choose a specific server to begin with, for example, and you can even create your own.
How to sign up
Getting an account started on Mastodon is simple. After clicking "Get Started," the app asks users to pick servers that they'd like to join. Although Mastodon has been around for more than six years, as of now, the user base is quite small compared to the larger social media networks.
You May Also Like
After picking an instance you'd like to join, you then create a username. Usernames function like email addresses, specific to whichever instance you joined. It's formatted as such:
@[Username]@[MastodonInstance.Domain]
And just like that, you're done. All you have to do is create your first post and you've officially made the switch. See how easy that was?
Topics Social Media X/Twitter
Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.
In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].
