# Following an ActivityPub Actor

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/following-an-activitypub-actor/314580>\
**Category:** Administrators\
**Tags:** video, activitypub\
**Created:** [July 2, 2024, 8:36am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/following-an-activitypub-actor/314580 "2024-07-02T08:36:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![angus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/angus/32/341715_2.png) [@angus](https://meta.discourse.org/u/angus)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 8:36am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/following-an-activitypub-actor/314580/1 "2024-07-02T08:36:55Z")

</div>

This topic covers following an ActivityPub Actor in Discourse with the Discourse ActivityPub Plugin, and follows on from [Setting up an ActivityPub Actor](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-set-up-an-activitypub-actor/314578). If you’re not sure what this means, head on over to the [Discourse ActivityPub Plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/activitypub-plugin/266794) topic first.

https://www.loom.com/embed/e533338473ec46128390ee9fe08f526e?sid=959af339-02e3-45de-a1f2-5b862cdc357e

### Instructions

To follow an ActivityPub Actor:

1. [Set up an actor](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-set-up-an-activitypub-actor/314578) for the Category or Tag you want to do the following.
2. Get the “handle” of the Actor you want to follow (see below).
3. Go to the “Federation” tab in the topic list view of the Category or Tag from Step 1.
4. Click “New Follow”, enter the handle from Step 2, and click “Find” (see below).
5. Click “Follow” when the Actor is found.

### Actor Handles

Most ActivityPub services use a protocol called [WebFinger](https://webfinger.net/) to allow Actors to be discovered by a “handle”. This is typically in the format

```plaintext
username@domain

```

Sometimes the username is preceded by a symbol, e.g. `@`.

#### Discourse

Obtain the handle of a Discourse Actor by going to the “Federation” tab in the topic list view of the Actor.

 ![Screenshot at Jul 02 10-25-46](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/2/d/8/2d8e593f9c0938598f44dfbe1a6281cb7eb09a59.png)

The handle in the screenshot is `announcements@test.pavilion.tech`

#### Mastodon

Obtain the handle of a Mastodon Actor from the Actor’s profile

 ![Screenshot at Jul 02 10-27-16](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/4X/b/e/d/bed6482a70f0f3e9194efb67af759b53c899344c.jpeg)

The handle in the screenshot is `@angusmcleod@mastodon.social`

### Finding an Actor

When you enter an Actor handle in the “New Follow” modal and click “Find” the plugin is looking up the handle using WebFinger. This lookup may not succeed. If no results are returned:

1. Check the handle you copied.
2. Check there is a live ActivityPub-enabled server at domain of the handle.
3. Try looking up the handle on another ActivityPub service.

If you’ve tried the above and believe the issue may be with your site, or the plugin:

1. Check the site setting `activity pub verbose logging` is enabled.
2. Perform the lookup again.
3. Check `/logs` for a logs labelled “ActivityPub”.
4. Report any issues you find in a reply to this topic.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/following-an-activitypub-actor/314580)._