what do you feel is working for them?
Discussion
My similar answer on Masto:
Yes. The growth has come in phases where X has done something massively “interesting”. Bsky is also still on invite-only stage so it’s not even open for all.
It lacks videos and some other features but I would say it’s main appeal: an alt. to X.
Why is Masto not able to bank on it is a really good question. My main guess is the architecture of separate instances that do not integrate into a smooth UX. The “a guest on somebody else’s computer” is too tech point for many.
I recall many people I knew on Twitter who were really confused about mastodon instances and found it more challenging to join
A year ago it was hard to find any instances that let you join them due to the massive inflow of Twitter users.
Yet, the biggest issue is the network effect for all the alts of X. If the people are not there the platform does not matter.
True. I also recall people poking around to see who is switching. From my circles almost no one switched.
It’s hard to do that if everybody else is waiting. Nothing happens if people are not moving before they are kicked out.
A lot of people have tried to move for a while but they always come back to X since it’s no point posting to nobody if you have a following elsewhere.
Yeah it’s a tough nut yo crack for sure.