Here’s how to follow the accounts listed on this site:

1. Click on Browse Directory or Top 100 Topics
2. Click on a topic you want and browse the accounts listed
3. To find out more about an account, click on the Fediverse address to see the account’s profile in a new tab. This profile is on the account’s own server’s website.
4. To follow an account, use either the “copy & paste” method or the “click follow” method, both are described below. “Copy & paste” is probably quicker and easier, but some people prefer “click follow”.

Following accounts using the “copy & paste” method

A popular and reliable method is to paste the account’s Fediverse address into the search box on your app or your server’s website:

1. In Fedi.Directory, highlight the Fediverse address of the account you want to follow
2. Copy the highlighted address
3. Paste the address into the search box on your app or your server’s website
4. The account’s profile will appear, you can then just click Follow

NOTE: If you’re on the official Mastodon app, click the magnifying glass 🔍 at the bottom to make the search box appear at the top. If you’re on the mobile website, click the magnifying glass 🔍 at the top.

Following accounts using the “click follow” method

When you click on an account’s address in Fedi.Directory, it opens the account’s profile page on its own server’s website. Because the account is probably on a different server to you, there are a couple of extra steps needed if you click Follow while on their website:

1. In Fedi.Directory, click on the address of the account you want to follow
2. Click the Follow button, it will then ask you to enter your own server’s website (for example mas.to, kind.social, sunny.garden etc, ask your admin if you’re not sure)
3. This will automatically take you to your own server’s website, you may need to sign in there if you haven’t already
4. The account’s profile will then open on your own server’s website, where you can simply click Follow to confirm the follow
5. If you want to follow more accounts from Fedi.Directory, the above process will be quicker because you will already be signed in on your own server’s website

NOTE: If your own account is on the same server as the account you want to follow, and if you are already signed in on your own server’s website, then when you click Follow it will work straight away without any extra steps.

Why is this so complicated? Why can’t I just click “Follow” without all these extra steps?

If you’re just browsing stuff on your app or your server’s website, you can just click Follow and it will work straight away.

However, if you’re browsing other servers’ websites, extra steps are required because the other server doesn’t know who you are. It needs you to sign in on your own server so that it knows which account the follow comes from.

If this all seems unnecessarily complicated, there are many important reasons why the Fediverse is spread out on lots of servers like this ⧉.

If you still need help, get in touch!

You can contact me on the Fediverse at @FediFollows@social.growyourown.services

If you have any questions, suggestions or other comments contact me. If you’re the owner of an account, let me know if you want an entry added, edited or removed. This is a curated list though so I can’t promise to add everything, and I only list accounts that are aimed at a public audience. If you want to let people know about your general personal account, try the splendid Trunk ⧉ and Fediverse.info ⧉.

If you need help with using Mastodon and the Fediverse, check out my other site Fedi.Tips ⧉.