I initially didn't understand the point of stories in apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat. I never really used any app with such a feature. Three years ago, my messaging application of choice Signal added a stories feature and their implementation makes me think that an instant messaging app like Signal could actually fill the exact use-cases that social media like Facebook are trying (and failing) to fill.
Pixelfed and Mastodon don’t fit at all what I want as a “social network”. They’re not built for communication with friends, they’re built for mass media.
I’m not looking for “reach” when I just want to share something with friends.