Mastodon is currently the only social media I really read or post to currently, because I like its model:
- I curate what I want to see–no algorithm!
- It’s decentralized, so no one “owns” it and if your server goes to poop, you can move to another
- No ads! I am fine with ads in some situations, but online ads are almost always awful, invasive, resource-hogging and can even contain malware as a bonus
Mastodon has a web client and an app for smartphones. Both are fine, but because there are no horrendous API fees or dictatorial owners crushing third party apps, you can enjoy one of many different apps. I use the following:
Mac: Mona. This is a one-time purchase (no subscription). It looks nice and runs well.
Windows: I use two web clients because all the Windows apps I’ve tried are ugly, bare-bones, or both. I have no idea why this is, but it is (IMO). For a more Twitter-like experience, there is Elk. And for a more minimalist experience, with cute animations and the like, there is Phanpy.
