nostr:npub14k23hl0c7a0ecs42wndgxg4l7w9ve03jtdlg48hvj93zdtq2cf9q3ted68

I run a site at https://fedi.tips which is full of guides aimed at beginners. There's a "quick start" section at the very top which links to the most essential tips, plus a complete index under it.

There's also other guides I've linked to at https://fedi.tips/what-do-i-do-next-are-there-any-other-guides-to-mastodon-and-the-fediverse/

If you're tired of doomscrolling, try #BloomScrolling instead. You'll see lovely pictures of flowers 🌻

#FediTips #MentalHealth

You can make posts appear on your Mastodon account at specific times using the post scheduling feature.

Scheduling isn't in the official apps or web interface, but it is available through third party apps such as Tusky and Fedilab, and through third party websites like https://plan.fedilab.app and https://buffer.com/mastodon

The feature is built into Mastodon, but for some unknown reason there's no official interface for it yet. That's why it is only available through third parties.

#FediTips

Do you prefer typing emoji instead of stopping to choose them from a picker?

You can do this when writing a post on Mastodon's web interface by typing a : (colon) and then a keyword without a space. This will automatically bring up emoji with that keyword in their description.

For example if you type :sun it will show you emoji with the keyword "sun".

(Note that if there are many matches for a keyword, you may need to go to the picker to see them all.)

#FediTips #Emoji #Mastodon #MastoTips

There are a lot of blind people on here, who use screen reader software to tell them what is on the screen. To help screen reader users, it's a good idea to use emoji rather than old-style smileys.

For example 😄 will be read out loud as "smile" because that's its alt text. However, :D will be read out loud as "colon D".

(Some old-style smileys do work with screen readers, but most don't. Emoji are safer.)

If you're interested in accessibiity, I strongly recommend following nostr:npub17dffhp0xpxw7we4eu9vxpwqwwg5d2dch72emgjuraw2ng43aeqlsk9m5wm

As many of you know, the third party iPhone/iPad app Metatext is no longer being maintained as the lead developer had health issues.

However, there is now a community-maintained version of the app called Feditext. You can follow the latest news about it at:

➡️ nostr:npub1e496hx8w47y0zqjdjm6epgnf5m26rjz3d63klrdfvmqv9n4n8uhsxgagfm

It's not yet in the Apple app store, but it is currently being tested through Test Flight.

Techy people can see the source code of the project at https://github.com/feditext/feditext

#MetaText #FediText #Mastodon #FediTips #Fediverse

nostr:npub10c35n4zf89n8cq7u4cs30gxdu9e02je83uuf3kmwxlnxm05tzugqmg4fqd

Short answer: someone else can use the username on another instance but not on your instance.

Longer answer:

Your unique address is the combination of a username on a particular instance:

@ (username) @ (instance)

It's the same with email addresses, if you register JohnSmith on Gmail that doesn't mean you are JohnSmith on Yahoo Mail.

It works like this because there's no central service keeping track of everyone. Each server is totally independent.

There is a strong rumour going round that some Fediverse developers and admins have held secret discussions with Meta/Facebook under NDAs.

The Fediverse is supposed to be an alliance of open projects built by a broad grassroots base. Its developers are not supposed to hold secret backroom discussions with people who have a horrific track record (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/dec/06/rohingya-sue-facebook-myanmar-genocide-us-uk-legal-action-social-media-violence).

Facebook/Meta is in effect a sociopathic corporation (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/growth-at-any-cost-top-facebook-executive-defended-data). Nothing good will come of talking to them.

nostr:npub1x0dl5506scmq0rll5qxnrsnp2gylt3a235d0a4m5evcwdxtrd6vq7c6l7g nostr:npub14vrx7tvj2mcmcvl50n3nstsexkw45j59xm56fk54j0nfuhhz5esqqd0e7d

Server costs are higher for video, but it's called PeerTube because it uses peer-to-peer technology so that when people watch a video they also send bits of the video to each other. This significantly reduces the amount of bandwidth the video host needs, which makes it better suited to indie servers with lower budgets.

I don't think it's aiming to be like Telegram or any messaging service. It's mainly meant as an alternative to YouTube.