things to be learned from nine years on mastodon and the fediverse

Speaker: Vanta Black

Room: CC 234

Time: Sun 9:30 am – 10:00 am

Format: Lecture (30 Min + Q&A)

Difficulty: Introductory

Track: Networks

Additional Tags: Sustainability & Funding, Education, Creative, Random, Self-Hosting

Presenter Location: In-person

Experience: first time speaking

At: at lfnw

Description:

After nine years on the Fediverse — nearly since the earliest days of Mastodon — Vanta has seen the ecosystem grow, shift, struggle, and flourish. Starting as a user and later becoming an instance admin, they’ve experienced firsthand how the Fediverse can shape identity, build community, and change lives.

This talk shares the most important lessons learned over nearly a decade: what makes the Fediverse special, what challenges it faces, how communities thrive, and how participation can be both deeply rewarding and personally transformative. Expect reflections on culture, connection, admin realities, and the joy of alternative social media spaces.

Target Audience:

Fediverse users

Instance admins

Anyone interested in alternative social media ecosystems