@natalie_romana @geordie Not really, if your friends name is John then you follow his Mastodon: john@thisisjohns.instance

If you need Johns email:
john@thisisjohnsemail.provider

It's the exact same idea, just people are more used to email.

If anything, finding people to follow on Mastodon is easier than email, as there are hashtags and feeds to feed you new users. Email is more of a direct communication with little discovery.