Mastodon offers three main interaction buttons on each post: Boost, Favorite, and Bookmark. Many new users confuse these actions because they appear similar to Twitter or Instagram functions. Each button serves a distinct purpose for visibility, feedback, or personal organization. This article explains the functional differences between Boost, Favorite, and Bookmark and when to use each one.
Key Takeaways: Mastodon Boost vs Favorite vs Bookmark
- Boost icon (two arrows forming a circle): Reshares a post to your followers, increasing its reach on the federated timeline.
- Favorite icon (star): Sends a positive notification to the author and adds the post to your favorites list, visible to anyone who views your profile.
- Bookmark icon (ribbon or bookmark): Saves a post privately for later reference, visible only to you in your bookmarks section.
What Boost, Favorite, and Bookmark Do on Mastodon
Mastodon is a decentralized social network built on the ActivityPub protocol. Each instance runs its own server but can communicate with other instances. The three interaction buttons reflect different intents from the user.
The Boost button re-publishes a post to your own followers. It appears on your profile timeline and in the federated timelines of your followers. Boosting is the primary way to amplify content beyond the original author’s audience. A boosted post retains the original author’s name and avatar, so credit remains clear.
The Favorite button sends a star icon and a notification to the post author. It indicates appreciation or agreement without redistributing the content. Favorites are publicly visible on your profile under the Favorites tab. Other users can see which posts you have favorited unless you set your profile to private.
The Bookmark button saves a post to a private list accessible only from your own account. Bookmarks do not notify the author and do not appear on your public profile. This function is designed for personal curation, research, or saving posts you want to read later. Bookmarks are stored on your home instance and persist even if the original post is deleted or the author leaves the instance.
When to Use Each Interaction
Boost for Amplification
Use Boost when you want your entire follower base to see a post. This is appropriate for news announcements, public service information, or content that deserves wider visibility. Boosting also helps content appear in the federated timeline of other instances, increasing cross-instance reach.
Favorite for Acknowledgment
Use Favorite to show the author you liked their post without pushing it to your own followers. This is suitable for casual appreciation, agreeing with an opinion, or supporting a creator without making the post visible on your timeline. Favorites are also used in Mastodon culture as a lightweight signal of engagement.
Bookmark for Personal Reference
Use Bookmark for posts you want to return to later. This includes tutorials, threads, resources, or any content you need to reference. Bookmarks are private, so you can save posts without affecting your public interaction history. Unlike favorites, bookmarks do not clutter your profile with every post you have ever liked.
Functional Differences in the User Interface
The three buttons appear in the same toolbar at the bottom of each post. The Boost icon shows two arrows forming a circle. The Favorite icon shows a star. The Bookmark icon shows a ribbon or a bookmark symbol, depending on your instance theme.
When you click Boost, the icon becomes highlighted and the post appears on your profile timeline. You can undo a boost by clicking the highlighted icon again. When you click Favorite, the star fills in and the author receives a notification. When you click Bookmark, the icon changes color but no notification is sent.
From your profile page, you can view your favorites and bookmarks separately. The Favorites tab is public by default. The Bookmarks section is private and accessible only from the left sidebar or the account menu, depending on your Mastodon client.
Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
Boosting Instead of Favoriting
Some users accidentally boost a post when they meant to favorite it. This causes the post to appear on their followers’ timelines. To avoid this, check the icon before clicking. If you boost by mistake, click the highlighted Boost icon again to undo the action immediately.
Favorites Are Not Private
Many new users assume favorites are private like Instagram likes. On Mastodon, favorites are visible on your public profile unless you have a private account. If you want to acknowledge a post without making it public, use Bookmark instead.
Bookmarks Do Not Notify the Author
Because bookmarks are private, the author does not know you saved their post. If you want to show support, use Favorite or Boost in addition to bookmarking. Bookmarks are not a substitute for engagement signals.
Boost vs Favorite vs Bookmark: Comparison Table
| Item | Boost | Favorite | Bookmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Reshare to followers | Show appreciation | Save for later reference |
| Visibility to others | Public on your timeline | Public on your profile | Private to you only |
| Notification to author | Yes | Yes | No |
| Appears on federated timeline | Yes | No | No |
| Can be undone | Yes, by clicking again | Yes, by clicking again | Yes, by clicking again |
| Persists if original post is deleted | No | No | Yes, until you remove it |
The table shows that each interaction has a unique combination of visibility, notification, and persistence. Choose Boost for reach, Favorite for feedback, and Bookmark for personal storage.
Now you can use Boost, Favorite, and Bookmark with confidence on Mastodon. Start by reviewing your current usage habits and adjust which button you press based on your intent. For private saving of research or long threads, use Bookmark instead of Favorite. If you want to amplify a post without cluttering your public favorites list, Boost is the correct choice.