mastodon.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
The original server operated by the Mastodon gGmbH non-profit

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Now you can create a Mastodon account within @ivory.

But unlike @mammoth, new users are given a choice of servers to join.

Here’s a screenshot of the Mastodon sign-up page inside the app.

@fediversenews

@atomicpoet @ivory @mammoth @fediversenews That’s because, unlike Mammoth, Ivory is not VC-funded. Tapbots just make a useful tool instead of trying to capture enough people on their own service so they can monetise them and carry out a successful exit (sell the company so their investors can turn a profit).

PS. The only time you can stop VC-funded startups is before they scale (grow) and obtain network effects. So the best time not to use Mammoth was yesterday. The second best time is today.

@aral To be clear, the lead investor (by far) in @mammoth is @mozilla. So while there is VC-funding, that's not where the bulk of funding comes from.

For me, the bigger question is: how do they intend to monetize?

@bart indicates it will be based on subscriptions. Okay, but how?

@atomicpoet Yes, Mozilla. The corporation funded by half a billion dollars from Google every year. The corporation whose CEO is paid several million dollars and whose head of public policy once asked me to go easy on them because “we’re just another Silicon Valley tech company, I don’t understand why you’re holding us to such a higher standard.”

VC is VC. It’s a very simple game and the rules don’t change. And Mozilla? Mozilla is Silicon Valley through and through.

@mammoth @mozilla @bart

Chris Trottier

@aral @mammoth @mozilla @bart To be clear, I'm aware that Google funds Mozilla massively.

But they also make the only viable web browser that's not based on Chrome. And it seems way more private than Chrome too.

My feelings towards this are mixed.

@atomicpoet Firefox is not private by default, it is private by configuration. A very big difference. How big? It’s worth half a billion dollars a year to Google alone.

But yes, you’re right, Mozilla is the best you’re going to get under capitalism and Silicon Valley.

(And if we want better things, then we must think beyond that model and fund them from the common purse for the common good.)

@mammoth @mozilla @bart #vc #ventureCapital #mozilla #google #firefox #privacy #SiliconValley #funding