Pforzheim shifts to Mastodon as an alternative to Twitter
The city of Pforzheim, located in southwest Germany, has announced a change in its social media strategy, moving away from Twitter (now known as "X") and adopting Mastodon as its primary platform for reporting news from the town hall and live coverage of city council meetings.
The city's press team had been using Twitter most recently on October 10, but the recent developments on the platform have led to this decision. The city's last city council meeting was followed via Mastodon instead of Twitter, marking the beginning of a new era for the city's official communications.
Mastodon, a decentralized social media service, offers several advantages that make it a privacy-compliant and more flexible alternative to Twitter. The city's Mastodon account, bawü.social/@stadtpforzheim, can be found on the German-based server mastodon.social. Users can also set up an account on any Mastodon server and follow the city's account.
One of the key benefits of Mastodon is its decentralized and open-source design. This setup allows organizations or communities to host their own servers (instances), giving them control over their data and ensuring compliance with local privacy regulations. The city's Mastodon account, sueden.social/pfbits, is operated on the server sueden.social.
Mastodon's privacy compliance is another significant advantage. Because instances are self-hosted or chosen by the user, cities can select or configure Mastodon servers that meet stringent privacy and security standards. This reduces data exposure risks common on major centralized platforms and limits unwanted data mining or commercial exploitation.
Mastodon also offers moderation flexibility and safety features. Admins can moderate content within their own instances based on community standards, and features like the selective Quote Posts help reduce harassment and negativity.
Mastodon fosters community-centered interactions, facilitating high-quality engagement and nuanced discussions. Unlike Twitter’s broadcast-style communication, Mastodon encourages niche communities often centered around specific interests or public discourse.
Mastodon is part of the "Fediverse," an interconnected network of social platforms that communicate on open protocols. This enhances flexibility, allowing public entities to connect broadly without surrendering governance or control to a single corporate platform.
The city of Pforzheim's editorial account on Mastodon has been active since May 2023, and all new messages are published simultaneously on the city's Mastodon account and other services. The city's Mastodon account content can be integrated on the city's homepage, enabling those without social media accounts to follow along.
The city's decision to switch to Mastodon comes amidst negative attention regarding Elon Musk's spread of right-wing extremist conspiracy theories on Twitter. The city's "X" account, which had over 3,200 followers, has been shut down.
Mastodon can be used on all major smartphone platforms and in web browsers, making it accessible for users across various devices. The city of Pforzheim joins a growing list of public entities turning to Mastodon as a more privacy-compliant and adaptable alternative to Twitter for official communications.
The city of Pforzheim has integrated Mastodon, a privacy-compliant and decentralized social-media platform, into its official communications strategy, as a response to concerns about data privacy and the spread of certain content on Twitter. Users can follow the city's Mastodon account, bawü.social/@stadtpforzheim, on the server mastodon.social or any Mastodon server.
Mastodon's open-source design and self-hosted instances offer advantages like flexibility, control over data, and compliance with local privacy regulations, making it an attractive choice for entities seeking a more secure alternative for technology-based communication.
