Opting in to Search results

Version Specific 4.2 and above

With the launch of version 4.2 and above of the Mastodon server software, the search facility has been greatly enhanced. Anyone on the server can use the search feature, however you can elect for your own public posts to be included in the results, or not.

By default you must opt-in to have them included.

• Select the Preferences Icon on the front-screen of the Mastodon Web client.
• Change to Public Profile 1, then Privacy and reach 2

There are two options to consider:

By selecting/ticking this box, your Public posts will be included in search results if they match the criteria the user is searching for. This option is Fediverse wide, which means that most others servers will obey this option if they have a copy of your post on their own server.

Note Should you opt out of this (untick), your post may be included in search results if someone else is mentioned/interacted with in the post AND they have decided to share their public posts.

Tip If you tick/opt-in to public posts in search results, you can set the visibility of a post to Unlisted before you post it. This will ensure the post does not appear in the Search results.

This is an internet wide setting. If you tick this option, you are flagging to search engines that you wish your profile page to be found, for example, in Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc. There is no guarantee they will obey your choice, but it is an attempt to inform them of your privacy.

Additional Reading How to use the Search feature