@Gargron Greetings! Thank you for creating and releasing Mastodon for everyone to build communities, make connections, and support a decentralized Internet. I’m really curious about the long-term vision for Mastodon. As the network grows, what are some of the things the development team is most excited about building or improving, while still staying true to the principles of decentralization and user control?
FOSS NEWS
FreeBSD 13.5 released with updated packages, support for Purism keyboards with Coreboot and other improvements:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2025/3/freebsd-13-5-released-as-the-final-update-to-the-freebsd-13-series/
A Latvian film titled "Flow", made with Blender, won Oscar, beating Disney:
https://proton.me/blog/open-source-flow-oscar
(Now we have something to show for the elitist normies, who laugh at FOSS, think that only proprietary software can be good 
️)
Bluesky adds support for uploading videos up to 3 minutes long, option to accept/reject chat requests from unknown users, support for muting account directly from a post etc.:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2025/3/bluesky-now-lets-users-upload-videos-up-to-3-minutes-long-and-enhances-dm-spam-filtering/
Audacity 3.7.2 released with improvements for AppImage bundle for 22.04 LTS, option to turn off automatic tempo detection, new “get effects” button next to the ‘Upload Audio’ button, UUID instance support, bug fixes:
https://9to5linux.com/audacity-3-7-2-improves-the-linux-appimage-bundle-for-ubuntu-22-04-lts
Framework Mono 6.14 released as the first release under WineHQ, with native ARM64 support for macOS, System.Windows.Forms improvements, improved Clipboard and Drag and Drop features etc.:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2025/3/framework-mono-6-14-released-with-native-arm64-support-and-stability-boosts-under-winehq/
Spotube 4.0 released with redesigned UI, support for yt-dlp and NewPipe, home screen widget support for Android, custom editable Piped and Invidious instance support, bug fixes:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2025/3/spotube-4-0-brings-a-redesigned-ui-and-other-improvements-to-this-free-spotify-client/
(Linux news in original post)
On #Mastodon there are now
381 verified accounts from #news organizations in
21 languages and on
116 instances.
179 were active today.
Some accounts, that were active today are
@aiaraldea (BAQ)
@EsquerdaNet (POR)
@TheConversationUS (ENG)
@heisedeveloper (GER)
@RadioCORAX (GER)
Find the whole list on:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ixsccIFQ4uD2HFlf92Ag7VS3rNOGwa97wFsSb3JxCwo/edit#gid=876665327
Built by @mho
Interessant wie die GLS Bank in ihrem aktuellen Post auf Bluesky und im Fediverse 2 verschiedene Sharepics und Botschaften nutzt:
#Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glsbank.bsky.social/post/3lkdeh2qih22p
#Mastodon: https://ruhr.social/@glsbank/114159846437597356
Mir gefällt der Mastodon Beitrag besser - @glsbank ist das ein A/B Test? Oder bewusster Aufwand auf verschiedenen Plattformen nicht nur zu Crossposten?
John Burn-Murdoch (FT) asks whether 'passive consumption & constant context-switching' in our use of social media is behind the rising number of people who have difficulty with literacy & numeracy?
Thus, while international & active use of information technology can be empowering, for too many (he suggests) the shift to a more passive relationship with what their digital devices offer is having a negative impact on information processing skills....
What is the difference between honest ignorance (which we all have on any number of topics, and if we're humble, we learn) and prideful ignorance ("I know everything already, shut up")?
This man
He came to the #Wisconsin state legislature to speak against #genderAffirmingCare. Instead, after listening to testimony, he apologized and said he learned a lot
On #socialMedia we are drowning in #bigotry
But, sometimes, you can educate those who will listen
Meta so scared of former New Zealand diplomat's tell-all they're trying to have it banned.
And the name of that books is: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, by Sarah Wynn-Williams.
It would be unfortunate if anyone heard of or read it. For Meta.
Social media that doesn't cater to the whims of billionaires, hateful politics, or promote fake news. Can you imagine it? 
On the open social web, you have a home on social media that you control. You can celebrate diversity, post links, and you can even share beyond your platform.
It's better social media and we're proud to be helping others join.
Facebook deletes live videos: Journalists concerned
Live videos created on Facebook have been disappearing after 30 days since February 19. Only the respective uploader can save the time documents.
@EUCommission
If the EU wishes to do something 10 times more powerful and impactful, it should wholeheartedly embrace and promote the #SocialWeb and extricate itself from State Controlled #USA #SocialMedia such as #Facebook and #Twitter.
The #EU should provide free assistance to anyone who wants to set up a #Mastodon or #PeerTube or #Pixelfed server.
It should make their own #Fediverse servers their primary source of communication. It should spend money on promoting #ActivityPub and its benefits.
This is how the EU fights #Trump #Fascism and puts Social Media and its moderation into the hands of EU citizens.
#Democracy #FreeSpeech
Report: Meta Platforms tests self-developed chip for AI training
The AI accelerator developed by Meta itself is intended to reduce dependency on Nvidia and costs. It is planned for recommendations and generative AI.
Hello World!
I'm lucky to have made it this far in life avoiding #socialmedia sites- so why not make the inevitable misstep slightly less bad by having my first platform be the 'good' one? I'm intrigued by the lack of algorithmic mayhem #Mastodon provides, and I hope I can find some neat folks who may or may not be interested in what I have to say or post. Not sure what my experience here as a total SM novice will look like, but I'm here now. I guess.
Social media complaints center decides against Facebook in the majority of cases
Since January, the Appeals Centre Europe has issued over 150 decisions on content on social networks – often in favor of users.
Was most excellent getting to meet and hear Evan Prodromou, the main brain & big kahuna behind the team that brought us the Activity Pub protocol, at the Fediverse House talks yesterday at the Speakeasy for SXSW. Always great to see that a dev doing excellent work is also a truly cool person too. @evan #sxsw #austin #activitypub #fediverse #foss #tech #irl #meetups #atx #socialmedia
Shoutout to @newsmast and @socialmedia for boosting one of my posts recently;
Just this one kind gesture is ALOT more than *ahem* #elonmusk ever did for me on X (aside from trying to milk his users and former Twitter Staff for ROI)
One thing I also appreciate about #mastodon as a #socialmedia platform is that there isn't some weird billionaire trying to get me to join to obtuse MLM scheme or whatever the heck he does!
I'm a Mad Hatter, I don't have time or energy for his dumb games
Social media isn't the same for everyone.
So we're wondering, what do you most use social media for?
If you use social media for something we've missed, let us know in the comments.
Understanding why you use decentralised social media helps us build better for you and all the future adoptees of the open social web!
Please boost this poll so more people can have a say.
INIT #Medien & #Socialmedia Fasten:
IF $Frage ("Wie lange denn PUPE?");
ANSWER: ("erst mal 8 Tage");
IF $Frage ("und Eurer #Podcast?");
ANSWER: ("Podcast posten ist OK •g•");
SET #Exerzitien := TRUE;
<Over&Out>
Grok can now also be marked in posts on X – and replies
X users can now also publicly question Elon Musk's Grok AI by tagging it in posts. There are only a few restrictions.
Mastodon is no longer a non-profit organisation in Germany
The open-source social media platform Mastodon now has to pay more taxes on donations in Germany. A US non-profit has now been established.
Tomorrow is International Women's Day - we won't be around tomorrow so we're celebrating now!
We've decided to introduce you to the women that inspire our community team. Michael is inspired by Maria Ressa, Saskia is inspired by Jen Beattie, and Freddie is inspired by Ahoo Daryaei.
Let us know which women inspire you in the comments 
Learn more about IWD here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
