Disclosure Policy

Let’s cut the bullshit: Mastodon Mesa isn’t some altruistic fediverse fan club. We’re a business, and we make money when you click links. Specifically, we’re part of the Bluehost Affiliate Program, the Namecheap Affiliate Program, and the DigitalOcean Referral Program. If you sign up for hosting, domains, or droplets through our links, we get a cut. No apologies—just transparency. This isn’t charity; it’s capitalism with a decentralized twist.

Here’s the deal: We track which Mastodon instances (and other fediverse projects) actually turn user growth into sustainable revenue. Not hype, not vibes—hard data on hosting costs, churn rates, and monetization strategies that don’t rely on begging for Patreon donations. If an instance is running on duct tape and good intentions, we’ll tell you. If a hosting provider is overpromising uptime or underdelivering on support, we’ll call it out. Our audience? Tech founders and community managers who’d rather build something real than chase VC money or Twitter’s algorithm.

Why should you trust us? Because we’re not pretending to be neutral. Every recommendation we make is tied to an affiliate relationship, and we’ll disclose it upfront. No “sponsored content” buried in fine print—just straight-up: “This link pays us if you sign up.” We’re not here to sell you a dream; we’re here to sell you tools that work, even if the fediverse’s utopian rhetoric doesn’t always match reality. If you want fluff, go read a Medium thinkpiece. If you want numbers and no-BS takes, stick around.

That said, we’re not shills. If a product sucks, we’ll say so—even if it means losing a commission. Our reputation (and our audience’s trust) is worth more than a quick buck. We’ll also highlight alternatives, including self-hosted options, because decentralization means you shouldn’t have to rely on us or anyone else. But if you’re going to spend money on hosting or domains anyway, you might as well use our links and throw us a bone. Fair?

Questions? Complaints? Want to argue about the ethics of affiliate marketing in the fediverse? Hit up our Contact Us page. No corporate PR flacks, no fake email addresses—just real people who actually give a damn about this space. Now go build something.