Mastodon rolls out quote posts with protections to prevent ‘dunking’

Mastodon, the decentralized and open-source alternative to X, is set to launch a new feature that has sparked some debate: quote posts. This addition, arriving next week, enables users to quote another user's post and share it along with their own commentary. While this feature aims to enhance discussions, it also comes in response to the prevalent culture of 'dunking' seen on X, where users often mock others with sarcastic or derogatory remarks. To mitigate potential misuse, Mastodon is implementing several safety measures with the introduction of quote posts. According to the platform, these controls are intended to promote responsible use, enhance conversation, and amplify voices that may not be as widely heard. Users will have the ability to manage who can quote their posts through customizable settings, choosing from options like 'Anyone,' 'Followers only,' or 'Just me.' Moreover, users can dictate the visibility of their quoted content, allowing it to be seen by the public, followers alone, or through a 'quiet public' setting that keeps the quotes out of search results, trends, and the public timeline. This flexibility gives users the option to adjust their quoting preferences on a case-by-case basis, particularly useful for sensitive topics that may invite backlash. In an effort to maintain control, users will be notified whenever someone quotes their post, giving them the choice to remove their original post from the quote. This feature is accessible through the options menu, where settings can be modified to manage future quoting. Additionally, users have the option to block individuals from quoting their posts altogether. The rollout of quote posts will initially take place over the next week on major Mastodon servers like mastodon.online and mastodon.social, followed by inclusion in the upcoming 4.5 software update. Users will find the new quoting option integrated into Mastodon’s Boost feature, akin to reposting on X. However, due to the diverse nature of the fediverse, the availability of this feature may vary across different servers and platforms as they update to support the new technical specifications.