Mastodon features explained
Let's go through every Mastodon feature...
Register for an account
So you have decided to get a Mastodon account and found an instance you want to join.
Registering for an account all you need is a working email address and a password.
Profile name
Choose a profile name. This will be part of the handle you'll be found under.
In this case the chosen profile name is PaulaToThePeople and the handle will be @PaulaToThePeople@climatejustce.social.
You can choose a different display name than your profile name.
Email address
Enter your email address. It's important you remember which one you chose and that you have access to the address.
Password
Choose a strong password. It's best to use a generated password and store it in a password manager like KeePass.
You'll have to enter the password twice to make sure there is no typo in it.
Server rules
To create an account you have to agree to the server rules. Read them carefully as you have to follow them and the other people on the instance have to too.
So don't just make sure you are okay with them, but also that you want others to behave accordingly.
Confirmation email
When you hit "register" you'll be sent a confirmation email. In that email there will be a link you have to click to confirm your email address and unlock your account.
Check your spam folder if you don't get the email.
What Mastodon looks like for new users
Follow suggestions
The first thing you'll see, when you open Mastodon after creating your account, will be some follow suggestions.
These are based on who other people on your instance follow.
You can follow someone by clicking on the + symbol to the right or check them out first by clicking on the user name.
To stop showing the follow suggestions just click "done" on the bottom.
If you want to see some more follow suggestions later on just go to ".../web/start" in your browser's url field.
Toots
Text
Emoji
Hashtags
Mentions
Attachments
Polls
Visibility
Content Warnings
Basic interface
Search
Home timeline
Notifications
Local timeline
Federated timeline
Direct Messages
Favorites
Bookmarks
Lists
Profile Directory
Preferences
Follows and Followers
Trends
Advanced Interface
Pinned lists
Pinned hashtags
Profiles
Your profile
Display Name
Handle
Profile fields
Profile description
Join date
Following and follower stats
Posts, posts & replies, media
Someone else's profile
Follows you
Follow/Unfollow
Notify me
Mention
Direct message
Hide boosts
Feature on profile
Add/remove from lists
Mute
Block
Report
Block domain
Settings
