Previews in ActivityPub / ActivityStreams is what should bind the disparate software and user-experiences on the Fediverse.
Not the ActivityStreams 'Note'.
...
Previews using 'icon', 'image', 'name', 'summary', etc.
Mastodon is the best way to keep up with what's happening.
Follow anyone across the fediverse and see it all in chronological order. No algorithms, ads, or clickbait in sight.