[TheJoYo]

Platforms that stick to chronological order are growing without the influence of this strategy.

Mastodon has been doing very well by simply offering the Email of social media.

[Nextgrid]

I agree that chronological order and more generally not overriding user's preferences to maximize engagement would solve this problem.

I disagree that Mastodon (or other federated alternatives) are a good example of this because these projects don't have a business model to support, so obviously they don't have to care about maximizing engagement.

I'm not saying maximizing engagement is a good idea, or that engagement-based business models are a good idea, I'm just saying that comparing a platform with an incentive to make money to one that does not doesn't answer anything.

[TheJoYo]

everything feeds the basilisk.

[throwawayboise]

Outside of HN I have never heard or seen anyone talk or write about Mastodon. For the general pubic, it doesn't exist.