Pixelfed

Last updated
Pixelfed
Developer(s) Daniel Supernault [1]
Initial releaseDecember 25, 2018;6 years ago (2018-12-25)
Stable release
0.12.4 [2]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 9 November 2024
Repository
Written in PHP
Platform Web
Available in44 languages [3]
License AGPLv3+
Website pixelfed.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Pixelfed is a free and open-source image sharing social network service. [4] [5] The platform uses a decentralized architecture which is roughly comparable to e-mail providers, meaning user data is not stored on one central server. [6] [7] It uses the ActivityPub protocol, allowing users to interact with other social networks within the protocol, such as Mastodon, PeerTube, and Friendica. [8] Pixelfed and other platforms utilizing this protocol are considered to be part of the Fediverse. [9] [10]

Contents

Much like Mastodon, Pixelfed implements chronological timelines without content manipulation algorithms. [11] [12] It also aims to be privacy-focused with no third party analytics or tracking. [13] [14] Pixelfed optionally organizes its media by hashtags, geo-tagging and likes based on each server. It also allows audiences to be distinguished in three ways and on a post-by-post basis: followers-only, public, and unlisted. Like several other social platforms, Pixelfed allows accounts to be locked, when followers must be pre-approved by the owner.

Features

Pixelfed has photo sharing features similar to Instagram and is sometimes considered an ethical alternative to Instagram. [15] [16] [4] Users can post photos, stories, and collections via an independent, distributed, and federating photo community in the form of connected Pixelfed instances. [17] Posts made in the same Pixelfed instance as the user will appear on Local Feed, while posts from other Fediverse instances will be available on Global Feed. The Home Feed, however, will show posts of followed users. The discover page displays images that may be of interest to users. [18]

Each post allows for a maximum of 10 photos or videos attached. [19] Pixelfed also shares some of Mastodon's features, including an emphasis on discovery feeds and content warnings. [1]

Official and third-party apps for both Android and iOS are available. [20]

Security

Pixelfed supports two-factor authentication via TOTP mobile apps. [21]

Reception

NLnet argued in 2020 that the tools and features of Pixelfed make it a "more attractive (and ethical) alternative" to Instagram. [4]

In December 2022, John Voorhees wrote a detailed review of using Pixelfed on iOS, and said "Pixelfed is sort of like a decentralized version of Instagram that has adopted the ActivityPub protocol." [22]

In February 2023, in a detailed review of whether to leave Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the fediverse, Andrew C. Oliver, Columnist for InfoWorld wrote, "Mastodon and Pixelfed feel safer than their non-federated counterparts" and said Pixelfed is the fediverse answer to Instagram. Oliver also said it is early days "in the Pixelfediverse", content is more sparse, but is either more interesting or at least not manipulative. [23] Charlie Sorrel of Lifewire said Pixelfed shows the flexibility of Mastodon, and has the potential to be much better than Twitter because of ActivityPub. [24]

Using Pixelfed has been discussed in books and conference proceedings. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]

In January 2025, 404 Media reported that Meta was blocking all posts on Facebook containing links to Pixelfed and 404 Media's stories about Meta's blocking. [32] Additionally, it was reported that Meta was also blocking 404 Media's stories about the censorship. [33]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Pépin, Guénaël (2018-06-15). "PixelFed, un embryon d'alternative libre à Instagram". www.nextinpact.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  2. ↑ "Release 0.12.4". 9 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Pixelfed Translations in Crowdin" . Retrieved January 5, 2022.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 3 "Pixelfed". NLnet . 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  5. ↑ Schulman, Ross (2023-02-02). "The Breadth of the Fediverse". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. ↑ Klaus Unterberger (September 7, 2021). The Public Service Media and Public Service Internet Manifesto (Ebook). University of Westminster Press. ISBN   9781914386299. Decentralized federated platforms such as Mastodon, Peertube, or Pixelfed. Those are platform run and built by people, completely open and censorship-resistant. You have communities of people sharing common interests and no-one is profiting from it.
  7. ↑ "PixelFed: A potential open-source alternative to Instagram". FOSSLinux. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Need a Twitter Alternative? Try Mastodon or One of These Other Social Media Networks". PCMAG. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. ↑ Kwet (2019-12-20). "Can Twitter Ever Be Decentralized?". Slate. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  10. ↑ "Das Fediverse – die bessere Social-Media-Welt?". mobilsicher.de (in German). 2019-11-19. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  11. ↑ Bhavani, Divya Kala (2019-11-26). "Mastodon announces Pixelfed, an open-source alternative to Instagram". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  12. ↑ "PixelFed: a rede social open source que é uma alternativa ao Instagram". Pplware (in European Portuguese). 2020-07-26. Archived from the original on 2022-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  13. ↑ Anthony (2019-07-01). "My thoughts on Mastodon and Pixelfed, open source social networks". Diverse Tech Geek. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  14. ↑ Pot (2023-08-12). "How to Move Your Instagram Feed to Pixelfed, the Photo App That Doesn't Track Your Every Move". Wired. Archived from the original on 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  15. ↑ Fundamental Challenges to Global Peace and Security (Hardcover). Springer. February 5, 2022. p. 152. ISBN   9783030790714. "A single mod can handle most of the load," said Daniel Supernault, the developer for PixelFed and the sole moderator for the flagship instance for the ActivityPub equivalent of Instagram, "We don't get many reports, the latest one on ...
  16. ↑ Krasnoff, Barbara (August 2022). "Eight photo-centric social sites that are not Instagram". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2022-09-05. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  17. ↑ Berens, Ulrich (2018-11-03). "Pixelfed: Fotos im Fediverse". LUKi e.V. (in German). Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  18. ↑ "What is PixelFed - Definition, meaning and examples". 2021-11-16. Archived from the original on 2022-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  19. ↑ "5 Open Source Alternatives to Social Networks That Preserve Your Privacy". MUO. 12 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Pixelfed Mobile Apps". Pixelfed. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  21. ↑ Bhavani, Divya Kala (November 26, 2019). "Mastodon announces Pixelfed, an open-source alternative to Instagram". The Hindu. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Making ActivityPub Your Social Media Hub for Mastodon and Other Decentralized Services". Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  23. ↑ Oliver, Andrew C. (2023-02-20). "Should you leave Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the fediverse?". InfoWorld. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  24. ↑ "Why Mastodon Apps Should Stop Trying to Copy Twitter". Lifewire. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  25. ↑ Zotzmann-Koch, Klaudia (2022-05-11). Easy Ways to Be More Private on the Internet: All you need to know about the Internet and what you can do in under 30 minutes to use it more safely and privacy-friendly (Second ed.). Klaudia Zotzmann-Koch.
  26. ↑ Zhou, Wanlei; Mu, Yi (2021-11-02). Advances in Web-Based Learning – ICWL 2021: 20th International Conference, ICWL 2021, Macau, China, November 13–14, 2021, Proceedings. Springer Nature. ISBN   978-3-030-90785-3.
  27. ↑ Crossley, Scott; Popescu, Elvira (2022-06-24). Intelligent Tutoring Systems: 18th International Conference, ITS 2022, Bucharest, Romania, June 29 – July 1, 2022, Proceedings. Springer Nature. ISBN   978-3-031-09680-8.
  28. ↑ Thomson, Robert; Dancy, Christopher; Pyke, Aryn (2022-09-17). Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Modeling: 15th International Conference, SBP-BRiMS 2022, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, September 20–23, 2022, Proceedings. Springer Nature. ISBN   978-3-031-17114-7.
  29. ↑ Minnick, Chris; McCallister, Michael (2023-01-19). Mastodon For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-1-394-19338-7.
  30. ↑ Mahmoudi, Hoda; Allen, Michael H.; Seaman, Kate (2022-02-04). Fundamental Challenges to Global Peace and Security: The Future of Humanity. Springer Nature. ISBN   978-3-030-79072-1.
  31. ↑ Laet, Tinne De; Klemke, Roland; Alario-Hoyos, Carlos; Hilliger, Isabel; Ortega-Arranz, Alejandro (2021-09-08). Technology-Enhanced Learning for a Free, Safe, and Sustainable World: 16th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, EC-TEL 2021, Bolzano, Italy, September 20-24, 2021, Proceedings. Springer Nature. ISBN   978-3-030-86436-1.
  32. ↑ Koebler, Jason (2025-01-13). "Meta Is Blocking Links to Decentralized Instagram Competitor Pixelfed". 404 Media . Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  33. ↑ Maiberg, Emanuel (8 January 2025). "Facebook Is Censoring 404 Media Stories About Facebook's Censorship". 404 Media. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
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