Mastodon surges in popularity as users seek alternatives to X

Mastodon, the decentralized social network, is seeing a resurgence in user activity as more individuals move away from X. Founder Eugen Rochko shared on the platform that downloads of the Mastodon app surged by 47% on iOS and 17% on Android in recent weeks. The platform recorded a 27% increase in monthly sign-ups, with 90,000 new accounts registered in November.

Mastodon attracts disillusioned X users

The growth follows increasing dissatisfaction with X’s recent changes under its new leadership. Mastodon offers a decentralized, open-source alternative to mainstream social media platforms. Users are drawn to its commitment to privacy, community-driven moderation, and independence from venture capital.

In a post, Rochko highlighted Mastodon’s stability and reliability over its eight-year history. “We may not be the biggest by numbers yet, but Mastodon has proven itself to be an effective and reliable communications platform,” he stated. He also emphasized its crowdfunding model, contrasting it with competitors like Bluesky, which rely on venture capital.

Bluesky, another decentralized platform, has also seen rapid adoption, fueled by funding and media attention. With over 19.4 million users, Bluesky outpaces Mastodon in numbers but takes a different approach. It plans to monetize its platform through subscriptions and other paid services, raising questions about its long-term alignment with user needs.

For some, Mastodon’s independence from profit-driven pressures makes it a more appealing choice. The platform’s focus on user empowerment and its federated model resonates with those seeking a sustainable, non-commercial alternative.

Mastodon plays the long game

Despite its recent growth, Mastodon’s activity remains below the peaks of late 2022. During that period, the platform gained traction amid controversies surrounding X’s content moderation policies and subscription model. At its height, the social media app surpassed one million monthly active users.

Rochko remains optimistic about Mastodon’s future. He sees the tech platform as part of the broader “fediverse,” a decentralized social web powered by the ActivityPub protocol. This approach prioritizes user autonomy and interoperability over centralized control.

“I spent 25% of my life working on Mastodon,” Rochko reflected in a recent post. He likened the platform’s progress to overcoming challenges that even major corporations, like Google, failed to address with their social media ventures.