If you see a padlock icon 🔒 next to someone's name on Mastodon, this means they've got follow requests switched on.
When you try to follow such an account, a follow request will be sent to the account owner who will have to manually approve your follow.
To cancel a follow request, press the follow button again (it will have turned into a "Cancel follow request" button when the request was made).
You can switch this feature on for your own account by going to Edit Profile > Require Follow Requests, tick the box and click "Save Changes". (To switch it off, untick and save.)
People do this to restrict who can follow them, sometimes just to weed out spammers but sometimes because they only want certain kinds of accounts following them.
If someone has specific requirements for their followers, they'll usually state them in their profile biog text. It's worth reading this before sending a follow request.
@feditips
🔒 LOCK YOUR ACCOUNT! 🔒
( MAKE YOUR ACCOUNT MORE PRIVATE! )
THIS IS A SECURITY CHECK!
(PROTECT YOURSELF)
---------WHY?---------
DO YOU NEED A THREAT BEFORE THINKING ABOUT IT?... THERE IS PLENTY OF THEREAT OUT THERE !! (WILL LIST LATER)
PRIVATE / PRIVACY LET'S IN MORE OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE AS YOU MUTUALLY FIND THEM ANYWAY
Click this post text to see instructions how to lock your account, it's easy and similar to public but less easier to observe your whole network!
THE REST BELOW IS OPTIONAL
(I KNOW IT'S LONG READING BUT FOR LONG-TERM DOING THIS LET'S IN MORE OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE)
---------------------------------
if you're not sure why to hide some information see below
Why make your followers list / following list private on Mastodon?
WHY IS PRIVATE BETTER THAN PUBLIC IN TERMS OF SECURITY?
MY OPINION why below-
PRIVACY INVASION WILL HAPPEN IN FUTURE / IS HAPPENING NOW - A PUBLIC PROFILE = FUTURE PROBLEM
And if you see the patterns in the world then you see the censorship and each country and business doing more and more stupid shit. This incrementing means 100% you will know IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA LETTING PEOPLE SEE YOUR FAMILY / FRIENDS / BUSINESS!
PUBLIC ACCOUNT IS A LIABILITY
(Click to see instructions how).
SHOWING YOUR NETWORK OF FRIENDS TO EVERYONE?
(not a good idea)
PROFILE TOO EASY TO READ?
(not a good idea)
Need to cover these things sooner that later like all the other privacy / security things
- SCREEN PEOPLE
- CHECK WHO YOU ANNOUNCE TO USING A MORE SECURE 🔒 ACCOUNT (it's still similar to public but people have to do more effort to get to you or do mass collection of stuff)
PRIVACY DOESN'T MEAN LESS FOLLOWERS! BUT 1 MORE CLICK TO SAY "OK YOU ARE NOT A BOT ETC"
CONFIRM AND ACCEPT PEOPLE
You have to assume an aggressive AND pa$Sive aggre$Sive world... as we are living it all right now!
SHOWING PEOPLE YOUR 'FRIENDS' / NETWORK IS LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN.🚪 🔑
IN THE FUTURE THIS IS MASSIVE
WE SEE THE MODERN INVASION / VIOLATION OF PRIVACY ACROSS THE BOARD.
PLEASE HELP THEM LESS.
YOU WILL THANK YOURSELF AFTER.
LOCK YOUR ACCOUNT PLEASE !
(Click to see instructions how, it's easy and you can undo it also).
@feditips
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO SECURE ACCOUNT HERE BY @feditips
https://mstdn.social/@feditips/109150829258668461