Mastodon, the decentralized social network founded by Eugen Rochko, has announced that it lacks the resources to comply with newly proposed age verification laws. This announcement points beyond itself to a bigger discussion. It digs deep on how these regulations will harm the platform and its users.
Founded as a community-funded nonprofit organization, Mastodon functions as a decentralized platform that empowers users with greater control over their experience. The platform limits access by requiring all users to be at least 16 years old to create an account. Unfortunately, that is insufficient because it lacks the technical ability to carry out age verification on its own servers. This significant limitation leads to questions about how the platform will continue developing in accordance with legal requirements while remaining true to its core values.
In an FAQ discussing regulatory pressures, creator Eugen Rochko wrote that decentralization has always been a major theme of his platform. He stated, “One of the reasons Mastodon was founded was to allow different jurisdictions to have social media that is independent of the U.S.” This approach reflects Mastodon’s commitment to providing a space that is not subject to centralized control or unilateral decisions from any single entity.
However contentious its mission, however laudable its aspiration, Mastodon is really struggling to deliver the day-to-day operational support to this larger network of server operators. As the platform expands, the compliance challenge with multiple legal frameworks is compounded exponentially. Rochko noted, “There is nobody that can decide for the fediverse to block Mississippi,” highlighting the complex nature of governance within decentralized networks.
Now in July 2025, we’re running Mastodon 4.4. This amendment enabled game server operators to determine minimum ages for account creation and develop legally-enforced structures for moderating terms of service. Enforcement of age verification continues to be a point of contention. Rochko further remarked, “This is why real decentralization matters,” underscoring the importance of maintaining the foundational principles upon which Mastodon is built.
The Fediverse is changing quickly. It features Mastodon and other decentralized services fueled by the ActivityPub protocol, as users confront the complications of new regulation.
