Yes, sort of. It's not exactly like DMs but mostly.
Posts can have different visibilities set, and you can set a mode called "mentioned" where only the accounts mentioned see it. Then you mention the accounts you want to DM.
After you've followed someone, your server will start noticing that person's toots.
It only takes one person on a server to follow someone, the server will start paying attention to that account from that moment onwards.
However, this doesn't happen retrospectively as Mastodon doesn't (currently) have "backfilling". If you want to browse all the posts an account has ever made, you can look at its "original page", more info here:
It should just work by tapping the photo and typing. I'm not sure why it isn't working in your case, have you tried restarting the app and/or the phone?
You might want to consider a third party app instead of the official app. The third party apps tend to be better anyway:
@FediTips@iChas
Thank you!
I’m trying Ice Cubes and Ivory. They both solve the ALT problem - and load copied photos much faster.
I do like Mastodon’s full phone screen width images though. Sigh.
One other possibility about the official app, is it the latest version? If you go to the App Store and select your profile icon in the top right corner, it should give you the option of updating any apps that are on old versions.
@FediTips@iChas
Yes, I did that, last update 28 Feb, but it didn’t solve the problem. I’ll be fine with one of the other two - probably Ic Cubes as Ivory is subscription only.
Thank you so much for your help.
@FediTips Hi:) I accidentally filed a pinned post older 9 months and now can't find it again with the standard reports, or various search operators. Scrolling profile backwards is unfortunately only possible for about 3 months. #fedihelp
Got a lot of new followers that had just joined today, had more people mention they were new in tagged threads, and when checking the general Mastodon user charts seemed to be a slight uptick?
Definitely not an automated post, I don't use them!
I should have used hashtags but normally can't get them to fit alongside guide, so sometimes have to choose lesser of two evils. I usually try to use tags if possible.
UPDATE: Added some hashtags in as there was definitely room this time. Apologies for missing them first time round.
"Definitely not an automated post, I don't use them!
I should have used hashtags but normally can't get them to fit alongside guide, so sometimes have to choose lesser of two evils. I usually try to use tags if possible."
Seems like it's trying to drive engagement into the FediTips web page, mostly
I normally write posts that include a brief guide to doing something, along these lines:
Do this
Do that
Select this option
etc
...and most of the time that only fits if I have minimal hashtags. So, I got into bad habit of forgetting hashtags sometimes.
The lesser of two evils is choosing between having a whole step by step guide post, or including hashtags. I try to include the full guide if I have to choose, as people tend not to click on links.
@FediTips@FinchHaven@Dianora that's true. I just tried to come up with an example in a hurry.
Also let me add a thank you for this account, it has helped me enormously getting into Mastodon and the work you put into this account is appreciated!