Support XFN identity (Mastodon verification) links in profiles
Author: oplik0Created Aug 8, 2023Updated Aug 23, 2026
Labelsenhancement
Description
Very loosely related to #11580
Currently, without any additional plugins, there is a field that can be used by users to link to their social media account - the website field. However, it's just a singular field (so one account only), and it currently won't allow for profile verification on Mastodon (and other social media using XFN rel="me" links for verification).
So since NodeBB is working towards supporting AP, I believe supporting the use of fediverse networks in a simple way would be a good idea :) Additionally, it'd open up the way for supporting verification back.
In total I have three proposals here:
- add
meattribute to user links- currently they have
rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"- addingmethere shouldn't affect SEO AFAIK- side note:
noopenerthere should be redundant sincenoreferrersets it automatically and is actually older thannoopenerso it doesn't even provide any legacy browser support.noopeneris supposed to be used specifically when you don't want to setWindows.openerwhile still passing theRefererheader - ref: NodeBB/nodebb-theme-harmony#24
- side note:
- currently they have
- support multiple profile links
- I'd say ideally it should also support some kind of metadata (that is, some name for the link), similar to how Mastodon does this.
- I'm not sure how should this be done with regards to template compatibility though. Passing the first link the way it's currently done (which actually includes backend-generated
websiteName, so that's done :) and the rest as a new attribute would work, but seems really ugly. I guess it could be then unified in NodeBB 4.0?
- support link verification
- would require NodeBB to check the website entered to look for a link with
relattribute that includesme
- would require NodeBB to check the website entered to look for a link with
Community forum reference
No response
Source: NodeBB/NodeBB