I know it’s possible to subscribe to a Mastodon user on a Lemmy instance, but it seems to me like this is of limited utility since the more standard use case on Mastodon is following tags rather than users. So, is it possible to somehow follow a Mastodon tag using Lemmy and get posts with that tag integrated into your Lemmy feed?

Edit: Never post before fully woken up. It is not possible to subscribe to another user directly on Lemmy, whether they’re on Lemmy or Mastodon. That’s how things work on Mastodon, not on Lemmy. It is possible to find Mastodon users by using the instance search feature, though, as I’ve described in a reply to @Malgas@beehaw.org below, but you so far can’t really use this to achieve anything very useful, as far as I can tell.

Edit 2: It seems like something like this theoretically could be set up, but it’s way more complicated than what I initially asked for. You would need:

  • A dedicated Lemmy instance for Mastodon tag-based crossposting (probably)
  • Some kind of form on a site where users who want to follow a Mastodon tag that is not already set up as a Lemmy community could submit the tag they want added, which would automatically set up:
  • A Lemmy community for that tag on the aforementioned instance, and
  • A Mastodon hastag bot that automatically crossposts all Mastodon posts with that tag to that community

Whether something like this already exists, I have no idea, but I get the feeling it could actually be useful.

  • RxBrad@lemmings.worldEnglish
    8·
    1 year ago

    There are hashtag bots that may accomplish what you’re after (assuming Boosts make their way to Lemmy).

    For example, if you wanted to follow the #cars hashtag, you’d follow @tag-cars@relay.fedi.buzz

    Swap out cars for whatever hashtag you want to follow.

      • RxBrad@lemmings.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        If you’re using a proper Mastodon client, hashtag following is a built-in feature, also, without needing these accounts.

        For most clients, you tap on a hashtag in a post, and then there’s usually a follow button somewhere on the screen (upper-right, usually)

        • gabe [he/him]@literature.cafe
          3·
          1 year ago

          Oh I know about hashtag following and everything, but the fact it’s hard to get stuff relayed in on a single user instance (specifically gotosocial right now) was what was stopping me from using it more since it feels like I’m on my own little island. But it works! It works super well!

          • RxBrad@lemmings.worldEnglish
            4·
            1 year ago

            If it’s truly your own instance and you’re the admin, it’s actually a bit cleaner to use fedi.buzz relays. Posts get fed into your Federation feed, and you can follow hashtags like you would on a bigger instance.

            https://relay.fedi.buzz/

            • gabe [he/him]@literature.cafe
              3·
              1 year ago

              Unfortunately, gotosocial is in alpha right now and does not currently support relays or following hashtags. It’s rapidly improving but knowing these work is a great step.

    • Anbalsilfer@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Thanks for that input, that’s very cool that those relays exist. I have to apologize anyway though because I apparently was pretty confused when I made the original post, because on Lemmy you can’t directly follow other Lemmy users at all, whether they’re on Mastodon or Lemmy.

      Something like what I envisioned might still be workable, but it would take a bit more effort and savvy. It would probably require a Mastodon hashtag bot as well as a dedicated Lemmy community for each tag for the bot to post into. See my edited OP.