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The Fediverse and Mastodon Explained
Thousands of independently run servers that talk to each other through one open standard. How Mastodon works, how to choose a server, and what stays private.
Independent guide, relaunched in 2026. Not affiliated with any earlier Sociall social network or app.
Free privacy checklist · nothing to install
Pick the apps you use. You'll get a short checklist for each one covering six things worth reviewing: who can find you, location data, ads and data use, connected apps, two-factor authentication and direct messages. Tick items off as you go. Your progress stays on this device.
Pick at least one app to start.
Progress is saved in this browser only.
Menu names change often and differ between the phone app, the website and countries. Each item says what the setting does and where it usually lives. If you can't find it, search the app's settings for a key word like "location" or "two-factor".
Your checklist will appear here once you pick an app above.
Lookup by phone number or email links your account to your real identity, even if your profile uses a nickname. Turning it off is the single quickest privacy win on most apps.
Location tags, live maps and photo metadata can reveal where you live or when you're away. Your phone's own permission settings matter as much as the app's.
These switches decide how much of your activity, inside and outside the app, shapes the ads you see. Newer ones cover AI training. Turning them off doesn't remove ads, only some of the targeting.
Quizzes, schedulers and "sign in with" logins can keep access for years. Old connections and forgotten sessions are a common route into hacked accounts.
A second step at login stops most account takeovers that start with a leaked or guessed password. An authenticator app or security key is stronger than text-message codes.
Limiting who can message you cuts spam and scams. It's also worth knowing which inboxes are end-to-end encrypted and which ones the company can read.
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Thousands of independently run servers that talk to each other through one open standard. How Mastodon works, how to choose a server, and what stays private.
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Bluesky looks like an ordinary app, but your account, feeds and moderation run on an open protocol. What that means in practice, and what stays public.
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Most of what apps learn about you comes from a few sources you can switch off: phone permissions, your contacts, activity on other sites and your own profile.
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Know which inboxes are end-to-end encrypted, move sensitive talk to one that is, and set up group chats so a leaked link or lost phone doesn't expose everyone.
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Download your archive, tell people where to find you, overlap for a few weeks, keep your username from being taken, and only then deactivate or delete.
No. It's a checklist. It tells you what to look for in each app and where it usually lives, and you make the change yourself inside the app. It never asks for your password and never connects to your accounts.
In your browser's local storage on this device, under this site's address. It isn't sent to us or anyone else. If you clear your browsing data or use a private window, the checklist starts fresh. The Reset button deletes it right away.
Apps rename and move settings often, and the wording differs between phone apps, the web version and countries. We describe each setting by what it does and give the name it usually has. If you can't find it, search the app's settings for a key word such as "location" or "two-factor".
Two-factor authentication protects the account itself, so start there. After that, who can find you by email or phone number, and which outside apps are connected, tend to expose the most for the least benefit.
Every few months, and after any big app update or a new privacy policy. New features such as maps, AI training settings or new message inboxes sometimes arrive with their own switches.
Sociall Guide is not affiliated with X Corp., Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Bluesky or Mastodon. Platform names are used only to describe their settings.