@bookstardust Firstly, it's not accurate to say that "no one uses" the official Mastodon app. In fact, new users prefer to use the official app because it is "official" and carries the Mastodon brand. You yourself say: "you go get app, you make account, you in". That's exactly the behavior Mastodon Corporation is counting on to lock in new users to mastodon.social. And moving accounts between server is still difficult and you loose all your content.

Secondly, while Mastodon onboarding may have a steeper learning curve compared to some social media platforms, I disagree that it's "VERY complicated." Freedom often comes with the burden of choice and Mastodon got successful despite users having to choose an instance in the first place. You made your way to the Fediverse, didn't you?

Moreover, who said that Mastodon must compete with Twitter or Tiktok in the first place? That is a narrative that was formed by Eugen himself. Who wants Mastodon to be a copy of one of the big social media platforms.

Finally, while it's true that some users may be hesitant to try a new platform, I don't think that's a reason to simplify Mastodon. Rather, I believe that offering users more choice and diversity in social media options is actually a good thing. We can teach the public that participation in social media is not synonymous with subservience to a single U.S. tech company.