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<p class="MsoNormal">There is an article in the July Braille Monitor – see below – which should answer some basic questions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dave<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2307/bm230712.htm">https://nfb.org//images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2307/bm230712.htm</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mastodon: Not Just another Elephant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">by David Andrews<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the Editor: David Andrews is well known to readers of the Braille Monitor because of his long service in monitoring and maintaining our listservs,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">his exemplary work as a staff member for the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, and his steadfast work as a Federationist for at least<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">half a century. Doing what he does best, he gives us an explanation of the evolution of social media, our participation in it, and the move we are now<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">making to Mastodon. Here is what he says:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bob Dylan sang, “The times they are a changing.” While this is certainly true in many areas, it is especially true in Artificial Intelligence, AI, and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">social media.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the area of social media, or social networks, we have seen the emergence of many social services, such as Truth Social, Parler, and Rumble. Facebook<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">has become Meta and has changed its emphasis. TikTok has taken over much of the world, and Twitter has gone through monumental changes in the past six<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">months or so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because of changes at Twitter, we have seen the emergence of Mastodon, another “micro-blogging service.” The National Federation of the Blind, NFB, has<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">dipped its toe into Mastodon, and it plans on doing much more. This article will provide you with some of the background so that you can understand what<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">is going on and why. While it is not a how-to-do guide for Mastodon, we will also provide you with some high-level information to get you started.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter was started back in 2006 and grew to be a service with approximately three hundred and thirty million users at its peak. It allows users to post<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">messages which are 140 characters in length. This was later increased to 280 characters, which is what it is now. You can also attach audio, video, and/or<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">pictures to messages. If you have an account on Twitter, you can “follow” people, and they can “follow” you back. They will then see anything you post.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can also use the pound sign, “#”, to add key words to your posts. You can then search for these hashtags and read messages posted by others when the<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">subject is of interest. You may or may not follow these people, but information posted by them under the hashtag will appear. For example, you could use<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">#NFB, or #NFB23 to identify your posts. You can also send direct messages to people with whom you are connected. Twitter has been widely used by journalists,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">politicians, corporations, organizations, and others to disseminate information and to keep up with what is going on. The NFB has had a presence on Twitter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for some time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In October of 2022, Elon Musk, of Tesla and SpaceX fame, bought Twitter for approximately $44 billion, with a B, and took it private. Since that time,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter has gone through changes and suffered from a great deal of turmoil. Over half the staff has been laid off or quit. A number of users, who had previously<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">been banned from Twitter, were allowed back on. The most famous of these is former President Donald Trump. Twitter has also stopped removing content that<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">many found objectionable. Consequently, most people now feel the service distributes much more hate speech, conspiracy theories, and other negative content<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">than it was doing in the past. Many minorities and marginalized groups no longer feel safe on Twitter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter also laid off its entire accessibility team in one fell swoop. The service had made substantial progress in the area of accessibility in the past<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">few years and seemed to be genuinely committed to accessibility, but it no longer seems to be so. There are two main ways you can access Twitter: through<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">its website, or through a third-party client or website. These “clients” are third-party software programs that give access to Twitter and run on a variety<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of platforms: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and others. A number of clients written specifically for blind people were very popular, such as Chicken Nugget<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and TW Blue. In addition, many mainstream packages were also accessible, such as Twitterrific. Third-party software accessed Twitter using an API. This<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">gave them access to the content which they could present in different ways. Twitter has cut off access via its API by most third-party clients. Consequently,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">blind or visually impaired people have fewer options when it comes to accessing Twitter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is important to understand that Twitter is a “centralized” service. This means that it controls everything. You have an account with the service, and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">it set the rules for who can be on and what they can post. You can think of Twitter as a huge apartment building. Individuals, organizations, etc., have<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">apartments (accounts) in this building and interact with others. Twitter is the landlord and controls everything. You can think of Mastodon as a city filled<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with houses that are connected to each other. Each house is an instance or server, and the people living within it can interact with each other as well<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as people in other houses. Each house has its own landlord and sets its own rules.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until October of 2022, Twitter tried observing the norms which were developing for social media. They identified content that was false, banned some people<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for violating their rules, and moderated content to remove hate speech and other problematic content. When Elon Musk took over, much of this went out the<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">window. He says he is a believer in free speech, so he let many banned people back on the service and laid off much of the content moderation staff. Consequently,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">many people felt that there was a need for a service that was more responsibly run. Enter Mastodon!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is Mastodon? Mastodon was started in 2017, primarily as an alternative to Twitter. It is a service with many of the same functions of Twitter, but<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">it is structured and run differently. Because of the Mastodon name, the elephant and Mastodon reference and puns are widely used. However, for our purposes,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mastodon is a decentralized social networking and micro-blogging service which is similar to Twitter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like the NFB, Mastodon is a “federation” of smaller parts that come together for common purposes. The NFB has fifty-two affiliates who are all a part of<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the central entity or Federation. Mastodon is a part of what is called the “Fediverse.” It consists of separate servers that run the same software and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">exchange messages and other data. Each server can set its own rules as to what kinds of content is acceptable and what isn’t. They can also decide whether<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">or not to accept messages from another server. Mastodon uses an open standard protocol for storing and exchanging information. It is called CommunityPub<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and is also used by some other social networks. In late May, I read that Mastodon had over eleven million users, although this may not be accurate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you are signed up and start using the service, it acts much like Twitter. You post Toots instead of Tweets, and you Boost posts by others instead<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">of retweeting them. You can also “favorite” or like toots or boosts. Each server can set its own message size; five hundred characters is the default,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and one thousand- or two-thousand-character limits are used by some instances. You can follow other people, and they can follow you. Hashtags are used<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">widely. You can access different timelines, both on your instance and in the Fediverse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When you decide to use Mastodon, you must first pick a server and establish an account there. The prospect of picking a server seems to overwhelm many<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">people. This is in part because there are lots of servers, also called instances, out there. I recently read that there are over seven thousand. However,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">it should be remembered that it is relatively easy to change instances, should you change your mind. Most people sign up via a website run by their instance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are general instances like Mastodon.social and Tweesecake.social. There are also countless instances that cater to different interests, such as the<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">disabled, accessibility, technology, music, food, LGBTQ+, geography, and more. The site joinMastodon.org provides lists of available servers and other<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">useful tools. Depending on where and how you sign up for Mastodon, the server Mastodon.social may be the default choice provided. You can use it or pick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">another, but if you use it, the site uses a user verification system called HCAPTCHA. It, of course, is visual, but there is a process for blind users<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to get verified. The process is accessible—you just have to follow the steps.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like Twitter, there are a number of ways you can access Mastodon. You can use the web, or you can use a third-party client. Most people choose an instance<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and sign up via its website. The software landscape is changing quickly because of the recent popularity of Mastodon. Most of the clients seem to be either<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for iOS or Android phones and tablets. There are not as many Windows or Mac applications. Some but not all of the clients are accessible to blind or visually<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">impaired people. I am currently using a mainstream package called Mona, which is quite accessible, and there are others. There are versions for iOS, iPad,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and the Mac. Jonathan Mosen, on his Living Blindfully Podcast, did an excellent audio tutorial on using Mona with VoiceOver. You can find it at <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.livingblindfully.com/category/episodes/">https://www.livingblindfully.com/category/episodes/</a>,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">look for episode 227. There is a version of TW Blue for Mastodon. This is a Windows application that previously gave blind people access to Twitter. It has been modified to work with Mastodon. You can download it at <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://twblue.es/downloads/">https://twblue.es/downloads/</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brian Hartgen of Hartgen Consultancy is conducting a two-part audio class on Mastodon in July. Many people find his tutorials to be useful and of high<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">quality. You can sign up for a fee at <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.hartgen.org/Mastodon">http://www.hartgen.org/Mastodon</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A number of individuals and organizations in the blindness arena feel that we should not support Twitter, since it has thumbed its nose at disabled persons.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the NFB will keep its Twitter addresses and post updates to them, we are moving our efforts and support to Mastodon, as have many other organizations<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and companies. We have established our own server or instance, nfb.social, and we have established two accounts on that instance, which you can follow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They are: @president@nfb.social and @nationsblind@nfb.social.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are currently seeking input and making decisions about where we will go with our server and how we will get there. In Presidential Release 527, President<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Riccobono said: “We want to know, though, what ideas Federation members have for how we can use Mastodon to build the Federation community. So we want<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you to share information about what your experience has been in Mastodon. What are your favorite mobile applications or web-based applications for engaging<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in Mastodon? What tips and tricks do you have, and how would you like to see the Federation using this social media networking tool? To share those ideas,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you can send us an email at <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:mastodon@nfb.org">mastodon@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To further support our members and other blind people and to help each other, we have started an internet mailing list on <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">nfbnet.org.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is called NFB-Mastodon, and here is information on its purpose and how to join.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With increasing numbers of blind people moving to Mastodon, we know that many of you will have questions. For this reason we are establishing an internet<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">mailing list to support you and Mastodon. The list is <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:nfb-mastodon@nfbnet.org">nfb-mastodon@nfbnet.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The purpose of the list is to support Federationists and our blind friends who may have questions about Mastodon and how to use it. Topics for discussion<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and questions include, but are not limited to: different Mastodon clients and their accessibility, how to sign up, how to find and follow people, and hashtags<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and more. Come and join us, and we will do our best to answer your questions and support you as we all explore the Fediverse together.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can join either by sending email to <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:nfb-mastodon-subscribe@nfbnet.org">nfb-mastodon-subscribe@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> and leave everything blank, or go to: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-mastodon_nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-mastodon_nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> and fill out the form. You have five minutes before the form times out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The list Tech-VI Announcement List from David Goldfield regularly posts Mastodon-related materials. Email: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io">tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> to subscribe. If you wish to explore Mastodon and the Fediverse further, use your favorite search engine to find information. Put in key words like Mastodon,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">blind, accessibility, tutorial, how-to etc., and see what comes back. It can be a little daunting, but many blind people have gone before you, and they<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">will help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on Mastodon!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">@dandrews920@tweesecake.social<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">David Andrews<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chief Technology Officer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">State Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2200 University Ave West, Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Direct: 651-539-2294<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Web|<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">| <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Facebook<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DEED SSB Logo Black and White<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> David Andrews<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chief Technology Officer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">State Services for the Blind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2200 University Ave West, Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Direct: 651-539-2294<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Web|<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">| <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Facebook<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DEED SSB Logo Black and White<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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