First-time user checklist:

1. Download Tilde Friends and run your own instance, or use https://www.tildefriends.net/.
2. Create an account to identify yourself with that instance by username and password.
3. Create an SSB identity in the ssb app. This will generate a keypair used to identify yourself to other users and sign your messages so that they can be verified as from you.
4. Describe yourself in your profile in the ssb app. Give yourself a name and an avatar if you like.
5. Connect to others. You will automatically discover peers on the same instance and same network if there are any. Or use rooms and pubs to reach more distant users. tildefriends.net itself operates as a room, so you can connect and see who else is online and establish a connection.
6. Follow people to grow your network.
7. Use the edit link at the top of any page to start modifying and making apps.