Atlanta's community network · Est. 2023

theATL.social

Independent social media for Atlanta.No oligarchs, no rocket ships. Just your neighbors.

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MastodonBlueskyLemmyDiscordPeachPieWriteFreely

Questions

The stuff people actually ask

What is theATL.social?+
We bring together the most popular open social platforms into one simple membership. With theATL.social, you get a Mastodon account, plus optional access to Bluesky, Discord, email forwarding, and more.
What is an open social platform?+
Open social platforms are decentralized, meaning that instead of one company controlling logins, your data, and content, multiple independent social sites (called instances) can talk to each other. You can choose where to create your account, but still follow and interact with people on other instances. It's like how email works: you can have a Gmail address but still email someone with a Yahoo address.
Okay, so what would I actually do with it?+
theATL.social's flagship offering is a Mastodon account on theatl.social, which you can use to follow and interact with people across the Mastodon network. Mastodon is the largest open social platform, with millions of users and thousands of communities. Paid plans also give you access to Bluesky, Discord, email forwarding, and other tools to connect with your communities in one place.
Why would I join theATL.social? Isn't X/Instagram/Facebook good enough?+
If you're tired of dark algorithms, shadow banning, ads, data mining, and corporate control, open social platforms offer an alternative. Plus, you join a community based and operated in Atlanta, GA!
Why does it cost money?+
Because the alternative is ads, data mining, or a billionaire's hobby budget. Memberships keep us independent and accountable to our community, not investors or advertisers. The free tier gives you Mastodon access, and paid plans unlock extra platforms and tools.
Can I try it before subscribing?+
Yes! The free Community tier gives you a Mastodon account on theatl.social with no time limit. You can upgrade anytime to unlock Bluesky, Discord, email forwarding, and other member tools.
Who runs this?+
Hi, I'm Michael, an actual human person (not AI agent). I started this service in 2023 because I was frustrated with the state of corporate social media and wanted to build something better. Three years later, the service is still going strong!
Is this a non-profit? Do I have to live in Atlanta to join?+
theATL.social is a for-profit business with a public mission: our current operating structure isn't compatible with non-profit status. Our mission is still to build a better social media ecosystem that prioritizes people and communities over profit. Most of our members live in Georgia, including the Atlanta Metro area, but we welcome members with an affinity for Atlanta and its communities regardless of their location.

Get In

Choose your level

Already a member? members.theatl.social/login

Free

Y'all come on in
$0/mo
✓Mastodon account
✓Lemmy access
✓Community support

Peachtree

But which one?
$5/mo
✓PeachPie (Pyfedi) account
✓1 theATL.social Bluesky account
✓Access to theATL.social Discord server
✓Fediverse Domain Block Management Tool
✓Priority support
★ Recommended

Ponce

Clermont Lounge-adjacent
$10/mo
✓Everything in Peachtree
✓Up to 5 theATL.social Bluesky accounts
✓Link Shortener Service
✓Pastebin Service

Dogwood

VIP at the festival
$20/mo
✓Everything in The Ponce
✓Email forwarding service
✓Digest Service
✓Early access to new features

The Scene

Your @theatl.social platforms & tools

Social Platforms
Mastodon

Mastodon

Free

Mastodon is a decentralized social network that puts you in control. No ads, and you can connect with communities worldwide.

Lemmy

Lemmy

Free

Lemmy is a decentralized, open-source platform for community discussions, an ad-free alternative to traditional forums.

theATL.social @ Bluesky

theATL.social @ Bluesky

Members

Bluesky is a decentralized social platform that gives you more control over your own feed and data.

Discord Server

Discord Server

Members

Discord is a chat platform where theatl.social members hang out for real-time discussion.

Tools & Community

Link Shortener

Members

Create custom short links @theatl.social to share your content and track engagement with ease.

Email forwarding

Members

Email forwarding for @theatl.social redirects messages to your preferred inbox.

Pastebin

Members

Pastebin for @theatl.social allows you to share text or code snippets with ease.

Domain Blocking

Members

Domain Blocking for @theatl.social allows you to choose lists of domains to automatically block from being accessed by your account.

Community Support

Free

Community support for @theatl.social is available to all members.

Priority Support

Members

Priority support for @theatl.social is available to paid members.

The Block

What we're about

“ITP, OTP. This is where we meet.”

Even if your nearest MARTA stop is… aspirational.

theATL.social, est. 2023

Community First

Built for Atlanta, by Atlanta. Open-source technology aimed at genuine local connections, not engagement metrics.

Decentralized

Part of the global Fediverse and Bluesky networks. Your community, your data, your rules, still connected to the world.

Privacy Focused

No ads. No algorithms. No surveillance capitalism. Just transparent, community-run operations.

Our Mission

theATL.social gives Atlanta's digital community a social platform built around privacy and real connection, plugged into the wider Fediverse instead of walled off from it.

We keep the space safe and inclusive, support local tech and creative communities, and push for digital literacy and decentralized web technology. Governance is transparent, and we run independently and sustainably.

Whether you're a longtime Atlanta resident, new to the city, or just love ATL, you're welcome here.

Join Today