Mastodon is a decentralized social media platform that has become highly popular in recent years and serves as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter). The company behind it recently announced a move to promote greater autonomy within its ecosystem.
In an official statement, the platform said, “We are going to transfer ownership of key Mastodon ecosystem and platform components (including name and copyrights, among other assets) to a new non-profit organization.” The intention behind this move is to ensure that the platform isn’t owned or controlled by a single individual.
A New Phase With Less Control
Eugen Rochko founded Mastodon in 2016. He was dissatisfied with Twitter’s direction under Jack Dorsey’s leadership. As such, he created Mastodon–a social media platform that wouldn’t be for sale and would remain free from the influence of wealthy individuals.
While various external organizations currently have some control over parts of Mastodon, Rochko still has the final say on major decisions. However, this will change with the expected transfer of ownership. Additionally, Rochko will step down as CEO to focus on product strategy.
The company will gradually implement these changes. In the coming weeks, it’s expected to announce the new CEO. At the same time, Mastodon will decide which European country to establish its new non-profit entity and identify any additional subsidiaries necessary for ongoing operations.
From an administrative perspective, Mastodon GmbH, which is based in Germany, will continue to exist and will remain under the oversight of the new European entity. It’s important to note that although Mastodon GmbH used to operate as a non-profit organization, local authorities revoked this status last year.
Mastodon currently owns an active non-profit organization based in the U.S. Its goal is to channel donations from Americans to support the project. Unlike many social media platforms, Mastodon doesn’t rely on advertising revenue. Instead, it’s funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.
The recent announcement clearly contrasts with how other platforms are managed. At Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg holds absolute control over some of the world’s largest social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. Similarly, X CEO Elon Musk has full control of X, the platform he bought in 2022.
Image | Chethan
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