How to see what’s happening on Mastodon without creating an account

Mastodon: Follow Accounts Without Joining the Fediverse

The social media landscape is diversifying. While giants like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram still hold sway, smaller networks are gaining traction, Mastodon among them. Its decentralized nature, however, can be daunting for newcomers. But what if you want to follow a specific Mastodon account without navigating the complexities of the fediverse? It's possible, thanks to Mastodon's RSS feed functionality.

Accessing the RSS Feed for Any Mastodon Account

Surprisingly, the RSS feed isn't prominently displayed. To find it, visit the Mastodon account you wish to follow (e.g., https://mastodon.social/@jhpot or https://mstdn.social/@popsci). Simply append .rss to the end of the account URL in your browser's address bar.

For example: https://mastodon.social/@jhpot.rss and https://mstdn.social/@popsci.rss.

Press Enter. You'll see the raw RSS feed data:

Copy the URL from your browser's address bar. This URL is then added to your preferred RSS reader. Your reader will now display all posts and associated media from that account.

What is RSS?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a straightforward method for tracking updates from websites. Many news sites and blogs utilize RSS. It's a convenient way to stay informed without constantly checking social media.

To use this method, you'll need an RSS reader (e.g., Feedly, NewsBlur, Reeder). Install your chosen reader and add the Mastodon account's RSS feed URL.

While RSS offers a simple solution for following Mastodon accounts without creating an account, it's not the only option. Due to Mastodon's decentralized nature, other compatible social networks exist (Pixelfed, Friendica, Gnu Social). Future integration with platforms like Tumblr and Instagram's Threads could further simplify access.

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