A Fedi instance requires a time commitment, there are some good suggestions in here but I recommend some alternative frontends.

When using the official Mastodon app (as suggested in the “guide”) “instances” are not a factor at all (unless the user specifically goes out of their way). A new user could have never even heard of the term “instance” and the above steps would work fine.

You don’t just download the app, create an account, and go.

Actually with Mastodon this is literally how it works.

EDIT: I should say this is how it works now, it didn’t always used to be this way. The official Mastodon app used to ask the user to pick an instance, but for a number of years now it defaults every new account to mastodon.social unless they opt out. There was a big brouhah about centralization but the Mastodon devs felt it made for easier on boarding.

Turns out good web design skills does not always translate into other skills.

If an instance has a lot of spam, admins tend to notice and block it. In the future it’s likely admins will have more tools too, but for now the system works pretty well.

That is correct and echoes what I said

The Remote Watch Pass is only needed if neither you nor the server owner have a Plex pass: https://support.plex.tv/articles/requirements-for-remote-playback-of-personal-media/

When using an affected platform to stream personal video content remotely from a Plex Media Server, then one of the following needs to be true:

1. The admin account for the Plex Media Server has an active Plex Pass (which also allows remote playback for any other user streaming from that server)
2. Your account has an active Plex Pass
3. Your account has an active Remote Watch Pass

The remote playback restrictions do not apply to streaming music content to Plexamp or photos to our Plex Photos app.

I agree with your overall sentiment but also literally 100% of BlueSky users are on one instance.

BlueSky is not federated. Also German users have outsized representation on Mastodon but most of the network is outside Germany.

People are talking about privacy but the big reason is that it gives you, the owner, control over everything quickly without ads or other uneeded stuff. We are so used to apps being optomized for revenue and not being interoperable with other services that it’s easy to forget the single biggest advantage of computers which is that programs and apps can work together quickly and quietly and in the background. Companies provide products, self-hosting provides tools.

I’m very familliar with the “Year of the Linux Desktop” joke but I also can’t remember a time previously when Linux was getting this level of mainstream attention.

A majority of registered voters in the US have no party affiliation actually.

sick comeback bro that must go over really well in your middle school

Yes absolutely, and that’s why I don’t think commercial social media will die. But I do think it will come to more be associated with activities gambling or vaping.

Not excusing ignorance but it is wild how different the experience of the average man or woman can be just existing in public. It makes sense to me that a man who is largely a basement dweller would have no first hand exposure to that sort of behavior.

There will always be two types of users: people looking to connect and people looking to be entertained. Fedi is better at the former and commercial better at the latter.

The function of accounts like the one you are replying to is to encourage cynicism and inaction among otherwise anti-fascist people.

Failing that, they will try to exhaust you with “debate”.

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I think the most effective reply is highlighting their methodology and moving on, rather than allowing yourself to be bogged down in rebuttals. You can never convince them because they are not “debating” earnestly, and the audience they are performing for isn’t interested in following a debate and will dismiss both sides.

Agree completely, I also just feel it’s important to highlight that style of inauthentic behavior.