@zOOpygOOpert I'm not sure what the federated tl looks like for ya, I remember trying mastodon.social as my first go at it and there being a lot of bots, maybe try looking for people that are in other instances.
@zOOpygOOpert Ok so this is a rough description based on how I understand it, but mastodon is made up of several websites running the same software, (wiith some alterations here and there but the same at some important parts), that link together in a process called 'federation,' where users can interact with users on other instances.
As for federated tl, send me a screenshot because I dunno where the button is on ur end but for me it's a button on the right.:
@zOOpygOOpert Step 1) Set up a new account on another instance. I reccomend awoo.space since that's what I'm using rn and it's been pretty comfy, though otherwise I suggest ones marked Request Invite (no instant signup) where mods approve registering users so there's no spam, (awoo.space was pretty quick at that)
Step 2: on this account, ⚙️ Preferences > 🔒 Account > Move to a different account.
@zOOpygOOpert Moving to a new account basically means redirecting the existing one to a new one, which carries over followers and stuff.
@zOOpygOOpert There's a lot of instances, but if ya want some lists to start with there's:
https://joinmastodon.org/communities
https://joinfediverse.wiki/How_do_I_get_an_account%3F
@zOOpygOOpert Hmm, I'll see if there's any good videos on it. Also, are you using the browser or some app because maybe it's the app you're using.
@zOOpygOOpert If ya haven't done much on your account yet you could also just make a new one and start using that. I didn't bother to move the previous one I made to this one since I didn't do anything on it.
@zOOpygOOpert I guess I can use that one for testing tho. I'll tell ya what I find.
@zOOpygOOpert Ok, so you need to go to the new account, go to the Moving from a different account setting under the one I told ya about, and type the handle of the old one (@ zOOpygOOpert @ mastodon.social) and hit create alias. This permits this account to move to the new account.
@zOOpygOOpert No, you gotta make the new account first, tell it what our old one was (create alias) then tell the old account to go ahead and move to it. I'll make a visual example in a bit.
@zOOpygOOpert Oh and for the no instant sign up instances, try to be fairly descriptive. Can't just say 'lemme in,' at least a paragraph about urself. This is to make it easy for mods to know ur not a bot.
@zOOpygOOpert Oh sure, I just set up screenshots on my laptop as I forgot to install the program for it. I'll use arrows too.
@zOOpygOOpert So like, you don't need to be on the same copy of mastodon to interact with someone, so long as you're both using mastodon, such as me using awoo.space interacting with you on mastodon.social