If you're running a Mastodon server jointly with other people, the admin can assign people roles (such as moderator etc) or create custom roles with specific privileges you have chosen. There is lots more info about this at:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-can-organisations-or-groups-run-a-mastodon-server

This roles system can also be used to give your server's supporters a special profile badge, by creating a "supporter" role. You don't have to assign supporter roles any privileges if you just want to give people profile badges.

#MastoAdmin

⚠️ Mastodon admins!

It's really important that you leave the "Remote content retention period" blank in your server settings. (This is also known as "content cache retention period" on older versions of Mastodon.)

If you put any values in there, it will start to permanently break threads on your server with no way of ever getting them back. This feature is NOT a cache, there is no way of restoring this data after it is deleted.

More info at:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/mastodon-admins-leave-the-content-cache-retention-period-blank

#MastoAdmin #FediAdmin

Mastodon admins running 4.3.0 can now customise their server's icons:

1. Log into your server's website with your admin account
2. Go to Administration > Server Settings > Branding
3. Upload the Favicon and/or App Icon you want to use
4. Click "Save Changes"

Favicon means the icon that appears when people bookmark your server on a web browser.

App Icon means the icon that appears if people install your server's website as a web app.

#MastoAdmin

A so-called "AI-powered social network start-up" has started cloning posts from across the Fediverse without asking permission. You can find out more in this discussion thread:

https://social.wake.st/@liaizon/112603447990005434

You might want to defederate from Maven, the domains to suspend are:

maven.ly
heymaven.com

This defederation will be much more effective if you have "authorized fetch" switched on, more info about it at https://fedi.tips/authorized-fetch

(via @liaizon)

#FediAdmin #MastoAdmin #Fediverse

A little-advertised bridge just appeared between the Fediverse and Twitter founder Dorsey's new social network. It intends to bridge accounts that don't opt out.

Doing this as opt out is a pretty immoral thing to do. Also unclear how legal opt-out bridges are in some countries. The bridge is using these domains:

snarfed.org
brid.gy

Server admins may want to defederate these to prevent their members being bridged without their knowledge or permission.

(via @mastodonmigration )

#FediBlock

#Twitter has completely cut off public access to posts. Twitter accounts are now unable to share anything with non-Twitter people. Direct links no longer work, which is a disaster for accounts distributing public information.

This is a textbook example of why you should have your own server as part of a federated social network. Ownership means your public links will never break, federation means you can reach a mass audience.

It's VERY easy to set up your own server: https://growyourown.services/grow-your-own-social-network

Mastodon admins and techy people, do you want to backfill missing posts that haven't federated to you yet?

There's a new tool for this called FediFetcher:

➡️ https://blog.thms.uk/fedifetcher

Bear in mind it's still very new and requires tech skills, read the github at https://github.com/nanos/FediFetcher

The script runs independently of your server, but needs an access token from each user that it backfills for.

Thanks to @nellie_m for highlighting this!

#MastoAdmin #FediAdmin #Mastodon #Fediverse #Backfilling

Mastodon now has support for importing server-level blocklists. This allows admins to import ready-made blocklists instead of having to block hundreds of servers one at a time.

If you want a source of blocklists, you might want to try here:

➡️ https://writer.oliphant.social/oliphant/the-oliphant-social-blocklist

There are many different lists on that site, with the criteria for each explained in detail.

For instructions on how to import blocklists onto your server:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/importing-ready-made-server-blocklists-on-mastodon

#Mastodon #Fediverse #FediAdmin #MastoAdmin

If you are creating your own server on here, don't use a domain name with the word "mastodon".

The word "mastodon" in relation to social networks is a registered trademark owned by Eugen Rochko's Mastodon gGmbH organisation.

If you use a domain name which includes the word "mastodon", you can be sued by Eugen's organisation if you don't comply with their terms:

https://joinmastodon.org/trademark

For example, this would potentially make it illegal to switch to software unapproved by Mastodon gGmbH.

Lots of new people, nice to see you 🥳

If you haven't already, please check out the website at https://growyourown.services

The idea is to help people who aren't technical create their own online services through managed hosting, where the hosting company does the techy stuff behind the scenes.

Some particular highlights include a beginner's guide to starting your own Mastodon server:

https://growyourown.services/making-your-own-mastodon-server-in-10-steps

...and starting your own Nextcloud server:

https://growyourown.services/beginners-guide-to-nextcloud

#ManagedHosting