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Mastodon has a new plan to make money: Hosting and support services for the opensocial web
Mastodon is launching paid hosting and support services for organizations wanting to join the decentralized social web (fediverse), shifting from reliance on donations. This will allow easier server management for organizations and create diverse revenue streams while maintaining its core donation model.
Key points
- Mastodon has introduced paid hosting services to support organizations wanting to operate within the fediverse.
- The hosting services allow clients to run their own servers while Mastodon manages the technical aspects.
- This initiative aims to create a predictable revenue stream, supplementing existing donations and grants.
- Mastodon has established partnerships with organizations like the European Commission to test its service model.
- The company emphasizes that customer-defined policies will still be upheld despite the hosting model.
Why it matters
- The trend of decentralization in social media is gaining traction, with increasing interest in alternatives to mainstream platforms.
- Technological advancements in server management and the rise of open-source software initiatives are reshaping online communities.
- The growth of the federated web presents new challenges and opportunities for content moderation and user governance.
Mastodon's new hosting and support service aims to enhance the sustainability of its operations, promote decentralization in social networks, and provide organizations with the tools they need to effectively manage their presence in the fediverse.