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?

  • ericdano@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    It does though. Someone has to pay for the hosting costs. And the domain (yearly) cost.

    As an instance runner, it isn’t a LOT of money, but still, it is money. It DOES cost to run an instance, and donations/sponsorships are nice to help defer the costs.

    • Beardedgeek72@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      This is what donation drives are for.

      On the instance I am on the admin currently have collected enough last donation drive to run the server for three years.

      Mastodon is an open source Free-As-in-Freedom non profit project. That is the POINT of it.