Mastodon, the open-source decentralized alternative to X, is preparing to launch quote posts next week, a move that has sparked debate given how the feature has shaped online culture elsewhere. On X (formerly Twitter), quote posts often fuel “dunking” behavior, where users pile on with sarcasm or ridicule.
To avoid repeating that pattern, Mastodon is rolling out the feature with layered safety controls designed to ensure it promotes constructive discussion.
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Users will be able to control who can quote their posts by choosing between options such as “Anyone,” “Followers only,” or “Just me.” They’ll also have the ability to set the visibility of quote posts, whether fully public, limited to followers, or under “quiet public,” where quotes are public but excluded from search, trends, and the public timeline.
These settings can be adjusted globally or on a post-by-post basis, giving users flexibility if they expect a comment to attract heated responses. Additionally, if a post is quoted, the original author will be notified and can remove their content from the quote via the Options menu. Users can also block others to prevent future quoting.
The feature will roll out first on Mastodon’s largest servers, mastodon.online and mastodon.social, before becoming widely available through the upcoming Mastodon 4.5 software update.
Because Mastodon operates in the fediverse, a network of interconnected servers, quote post support may not appear consistently across platforms until others adopt the same technical standards.
With this update, Mastodon aims to use quote posts not as a vehicle for hostility but as a tool to expand conversations, foster connections, and amplify diverse voices.
