If you're into decentralized, open-source social networks that take power away from billionaires and give it to the people, now you can show your support for the cause.by buying a toy. Yesterday, Mastodon, the decentralized alternative to X, launched its official merchandise in the form of adorable, plush mastodons - the prehistoric, tusked proto-elephants that give the social network its name.

As a result, last year, the company declared it would support its development efforts by taking help from merchandise sales after a poll found that more than 6,700 Mastodon users said they would buy something if merch was made available. Not long thereafter, Mastodon sold out of a small test round of products quickly, including mugs, tees, and pins. Soon after that lineup, which had only included 250 units of each, was sold out.

That brings us to today's launch of the Mastodon plushie, which comes in one size for $45 (USD). The light-colored, washable stuffie stands 35cm high and is cushy enough for use as a travel pillow, the company says. Unfortunately for US fans, it is initially available only in the EU because shipments to the US have been delayed by recent storms.

In less than a few hours since launch, Mastodon had sold 176 plushies, bringing nearly $8K in revenue to the company, though it is less than its manufacturing and shipping costs. By day's end, the numbers had passed 200. Neither remotely enough to cover the salary of a developer, though that may be the best it can hope for, it should be able to chip away at its server bills at least.

It's hard to imagine how a smallish social network--one that, according to its founder and CEO Eugen Rochko, funds itself mainly through Patreon --will ever come close to competing financially with X and Meta's Threads. Yet it's fun to see the open social community get behind the effort, posting their plushie support #plushtodon after their sales are complete.