Eugen Rochko, the founder of decentralized social network Mastodon, has stepped down as CEO as the platform undergoes a major organizational restructuring. The move comes as Mastodon formalizes its operations under a nonprofit governance model, with oversight provided by a board of directors. Felix Hlatky has been appointed as the new Executive Director, taking over the operational leadership of the network.
The decision to restructure reflects Mastodon’s efforts to ensure long-term sustainability and maintain its decentralized ethos amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms. Rochko, who launched Mastodon in 2016 as an open-source alternative to traditional social media networks, emphasized that the transition is designed to empower the community and strengthen the platform’s governance.
Under Hlatky’s leadership, Mastodon aims to focus on improving the user experience, expanding server interoperability, and fostering transparency in moderation practices. The network has seen a significant uptick in users over the past year, particularly after changes in major centralized social media platforms prompted users to seek decentralized alternatives.
Analysts suggest that Mastodon’s shift to a nonprofit structure could enhance trust among users and developers, potentially attracting more contributors to the open-source ecosystem. The platform continues to prioritize privacy, federation, and user autonomy, setting itself apart from commercial social media services.
The leadership change marks a pivotal moment for Mastodon, signaling a commitment to community-driven governance while preparing the network for future growth in the competitive social media landscape.
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