Cosmetics.
Let’s offer paid cosmetics for users of your instance. Animated or custom banners, posts, new themes, etc.
It’s a model that works really well for Discord and League of Legends. Instances offering to sell aesthetic luxury to their user base could work for Mastodon too.
It’s non-invasive, it’s optional, it’s a great addition for some people, and it allows to raise funds to keep the hosted instances up and running.
Do you think it’s viable?
charging for cosmetics might devalue the essence of mastodon. it’s more about the community and less about flashy stuff. keeping the platform open and accessible is key. monetization shouldn’t compromise the core values of mastodon.