Pretty much this. It's why I love it for my use case (microblogging journal that only I can see), but it's definitely not for everyone else.
It's why if your average influencer or news consumer wants a Twitter alternative, it's likely Threads or perhaps BlueSky, not Mastodon.
Seconding this.
I'm in my late 30s but I don't want to continue the chain of grouchy old fucks that oppose anything fun.