Mastodon, the open, decentralized alternative to Big Tech apps like X and Threads, is betting that email could help solve the open social web’s biggest problem: audience growth.
With the software’s latest release, the social networking platform is introducing email newsletters, a feature that will allow writers to send their posts directly to subscribers’ inboxes, even if those subscribers don’t have or want a Mastodon account.
The feature could allow Mastodon to evolve beyond being just another X alternative, and provides a way for creators to build portable audiences on the decentralized web, reducing their dependence on other social platforms. By tying the functionality to email, a communication system that’s stood the test of time, Mastodon may appeal to those who want to support creators outside of Big Tech ecosystems without requiring them to sign up for a new social network.
The feature is arriving as part of Mastodon 4.6, a broader update that introduced other changes, like refreshed user profiles and support for “Collections” — Mastodon’s take on the user-generated suggested follow lists popularized elsewhere on the social web as “Starter Packs.”
Image Credits:Mastodon
