FAQ
Honest answers to the questions people ask before taking the leap.
About the Fediverse
What exactly is the Fediverse?
A collection of independent social networks that can talk to each other — run by individuals, nonprofits, and cooperatives instead of corporations. Think of it like email: you can have a Gmail address and still send a message to someone on Outlook. You can have a Friendica account and follow someone on Mastodon. No single company owns any of it.
Which Fediverse platform should I join?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Mastodon is the most widely known — a Twitter-like microblogging experience. Friendica is closer to Facebook, with longer posts, groups, and a more familiar feed. Pixelfed is photo-focused, similar to Instagram. Misskey/Calckey leans toward a younger, playful crowd. I don’t think there’s one right answer — that’s kind of the point. I’ll help you figure out which fits your situation.
What’s an instance, and does it matter which one I pick?
An instance is an independently-run server running Fediverse software. You sign up on one instance, but you can follow and interact with people on any other instance running compatible software. The instance you pick matters somewhat — it has its own moderation rules and culture — but it’s not a permanent decision. You can move your account, including your followers, if you find a better fit later.
Will I lose my followers if I move instances?
No — Mastodon and several other platforms support account migration, which moves your followers automatically. Your posts don’t transfer (they stay on the old instance), but your social graph comes with you. It’s one of the things that makes the Fediverse genuinely different from a platform like Twitter, where leaving means starting over.
Is the Fediverse really free of advertising?
On most instances, yes. There’s no ad platform, no sponsored posts, and no algorithm optimizing for engagement. Instances are typically funded by donations from their members. That’s also why I run a Liberapay — keeping independent servers running costs real money, and donations make it sustainable without selling anything.
What about my friends and family — they’re all on Facebook.
This is the honest tradeoff. The Fediverse is not where most people are, yet. You may find a smaller, more intentional community rather than a large noisy one. Some people keep a minimal presence on corporate platforms just to stay in touch with family while moving their actual social life to the Fediverse. I’m not going to tell you what the right balance is — that’s yours to figure out. I’ll just help you understand the options.
About working with me
Do I need to be technical?
No. I was a complete beginner at some of this once too, and I’m not judging where you’re starting from. We go at your pace. The goal is that you leave feeling more capable and confident, not more confused.
What does a session look like?
Usually a conversation — either via Matrix, XMPP, or whatever you’re comfortable with. You tell me what you want to do or understand, and we work through it together. Some people want a one-time orientation. Others come back with questions as they go. There’s no prescribed format.
How much does it cost?
I don’t charge for individual guidance sessions. Fairly Social is supported by voluntary donations from people who find it useful. If you get value from it, a contribution helps keep the servers running and the time available. But it’s never a condition of getting help.
What if I’m not ready yet — just curious?
That’s a perfectly good place to start. Read the blog, follow along, ask a question when one comes up. There’s no pressure to commit to anything. The Fediverse will still be here when you’re ready.
About privacy and self-hosting
Is the Fediverse actually private?
More private than corporate platforms, but not private by default. Public posts on the Fediverse are public — anyone can read them, and they can be indexed. Direct messages are not end-to-end encrypted on most platforms (Matrix is the exception). What you gain is the absence of surveillance capitalism: no profile building, no ad targeting, no selling your data. That’s meaningful, but it’s different from anonymity.
What is self-hosting, and do I need to do it?
Self-hosting means running your own server — your own instance of Mastodon, Friendica, Matrix, or similar software — rather than signing up on someone else’s. You don’t need to do it. Most people shouldn’t start there. But if you want full control over your data and your community, it’s an option worth knowing about. I self-host using YunoHost, which makes it considerably less intimidating than it sounds.
What’s Matrix, and how is it different from the Fediverse?
Matrix is an open messaging protocol — think of it as an alternative to WhatsApp or iMessage, not a social network. It’s built on the same decentralized principles as the Fediverse but focused on private and group messaging rather than public posts. It’s what I use for direct communication, and it’s what I’d suggest if you’re looking for a privacy-respecting messaging option.
Still have questions?