TechCapsules

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Mastodon, the open-source, decentralized social network, is rolling out a slew of updates with the release of Mastodon 4.4. The latest version takes significant steps towards implementing Quote Posts, a feature that will bring it on par with other social networks of its type. Quote Posts, similar to Twitter's Quote Tweets, allow users to quote another person's post and add their own commentary above it. While this feature has led to a culture of "dunking" on Twitter, where users would bash or deride another person by quoting their post and responding with snark or insulting humor, Mastodon aims to implement the feature in a way that limits its ability to be used for hate and harassment. According to the company, users will be able to control whether or not their content can be quoted, and will be able to withdraw their posts from the quoted context at any time. Additionally, users will receive notifications when someone quotes their post. Although Quote Posts are not fully rolled out in Mastodon 4.4, the organization is releasing the code that supports displaying Quote Posts from compatible Fediverse platforms, including future Mastodon releases. The ability to quote posts will arrive in Mastodon version 4.5 later this year. Other significant changes in Mastodon 4.4 include: * A new "Feature on my profile" option, which allows users to showcase content they want to promote, such as posts with a specific hashtag or other accounts they find interesting. * A redesigned profile layout, with pinned posts displayed at the top of the profile in a carousel. * A new profile widget that shows how many of the people you follow are following the person whose profile you're viewing, making it easier to expand your network. * Improved media controls, including a redesigned media player with more centrally located play and pause buttons, additional hotkeys, and mobile features such as double-tap zoom and swipe-up to close zoomed images. * A reminder to add alt text to images, making the app more accessible to vision-impaired users. * A revamped mobile website with a bottom toolbar and consistent navigation across platforms. * The "Explore" section has been renamed "Trending," and the sidebar navigation controls have been organized into three sections. Overall, Mastodon 4.4 sets the stage for the implementation of Quote Posts and introduces several design and functionality improvements to the platform.