We have been testing the Mastodon feature “authorized fetch” for some time, and can now confirm we are going to move forward with this setting enabled.
When a server we are connected to is suspended, it continues to have access to all public posts and profiles, as this information is accessed anonymously unless authorized fetch is enabled.
Authorized fetch requires all Fediverse servers to identify themselves for each request, thereby allowing us to recognize and refuse access to suspended servers.
This does not completely protect any individual content that is posted using the “Public” setting, as this content is also freely available from any web browser. However, it removes the opportunity for suspended servers servers to fetch and interact with your content.
We additionally block access using other tools and resources, as part of our wider toolkit to reduce access for inauthentic actors.
This setting may impact some third-party Mastodon clients, please let us know at help@toot.wales if you encounter any issues.
On your blog site, add a link to your profile using the following specific HTML
<a rel="me" href="https://toot.wales/@myusername">Follow me on toot.wales</a>
You can put anything you like in the link text, “Follow me on Mastodon”, “Find me on Tŵt Cymru”, “Dilynwch fi ar Tŵt”, or use one of our icons from https://blogs.toot.wales/toot/dolen-i-link-to-twt
If you're using Wordpress, you'll need to add a Custom HTML block, or add the link as normal then go into Code editor mode to add the rel=“me” part.
Tŵt Cymru operates a range of communications services that use an open, decentralised social networking protocol called “ActivityPub”. ActivityPub provides a method for software services to enable creating, updating, and deleting content, as well as delivering notifications and content.
The Fediverse is the collection of social networks and applications that can communicate with each other using ActivityPub, while remaining independent. Users on different communities, social networks and apps can send and receive updates across the network, creating an open, social web.
It's been five years! Each and every member of toot.wales is helping create #BetterSocialMedia, and we love sharing the joy.
To celebrate we are planning a road trip in June for everyone in the #Fediverse, whether you're on toot.wales, Mastodon, Pixelfed... anything!
Let's get together for some #TootUp fun, meet Jaz and the rest of Tîm Tŵt – and hopefully bring some friends and introduce them to our amazing community along the way!
Thurs Jun 8 – Jaz @ Swansea 4-7pm (Need a coffee shop nomination)
Fri Jun 9 – Toot Wales Team @ Cardiff: 4-7pm Little Man Coffee, 7-9pm Dinner
Sat Jun 10 – Jaz @ Carmarthen: 7-10pm Cwrw
Tŵt staff routinely boost toots to help your content gain visibility using boosts, featuring your content on #DyddDilyn or #MidweekMindful, and approving your content for the Explore pages and the Trending list.
Please note, to be included your content must meet our Code of Conduct and follow our guidelines:
– no swears without a CW
– media files must have alternative text descriptions
– no links to Twitter or Meta-owned properties
If you'd like to nominate someone for Dydd Dilyn/Follow Friday please DM @teamtoot
Vision impairment, including low vision, affects hundreds of thousands of people on the Fediverse, including me. Vision impairment can make it hard to enjoy the visual media that gets posted to Mastodon and the wider Fediverse, especially if it's a screenshot of text.
Adding a simple description takes a few extra seconds, and can make everyone's experience so much more enjoyable.
We know that not all apps are helpful in showing you how to add alternative text descriptions, and we know that not all apps do a great job of showing it if it's there, but to raise awareness we are going to blur or highlight your media on Fridays in February.
Starting in November 2022 we have seen an influx of members seeking to migrate from Twitter to Tŵt Cymru. We are very happy to accomodate the move and are glad to welcome everyone, however we are now seeing a large number of accounts exhibiting various habits that are disruptive to the community. Of particular note is the unmonitored use of a Twitter crossposter, a means to automatically post Twitter content to Tŵt.
We understand many people are testing the Mastodon waters and are worried about losing their Twitter community. However, our public timelines are not intended for absentee tweeters pushing content into the public feeds that includes non-functional Twitter usernames, bot spam, and high volume retweet content that is only available on Twitter.com, a site many of our membership prefers to avoid.
Personal accounts registered on Tŵt are generally intended for engagement, not broadcast. Our members expect to be able to engage with you and your posts. If you wish to use both platforms and plan on using a bot of some kind to mirror content from Twitter, the following rules will apply beginning Monday January 16th, 2023:
To avoid confusion and to ensure healthy engagement on our services we may verify certain accounts of notable organisations or persons. If you believe an account that represents you, an organisation you represent, or a client you are representing has been registered in bad faith on toot.wales and you wish to reclaim it, see https://forms.gle/ScBxTt2EL7atPq577
