Pixelfed Explained

Pixelfed
Logo Alt:The Pixelfed logo. A warm, colourful lollipop-like circle with a white P over it
Screenshot Alt:A screenshot of the Pixelfed user interface
Developer:Daniel Supernault[1]
Programming Language:PHP
Platform:Web
Language Count:44
Language Footnote:[2]
License:AGPLv3+

Pixelfed is a free and open-source image sharing social network service.[3] [4] The platform uses a decentralized architecture which is roughly comparable to e-mail providers, meaning user data is not stored on one central server.[5] [6] It uses the ActivityPub protocol, allowing users to interact with other social networks within the protocol, such as Mastodon, PeerTube, and Friendica.[7] Pixelfed and other platforms utilizing this protocol are considered to be part of the Fediverse.[8] [9]

Much like Mastodon, Pixelfed implements chronological timelines without content manipulation algorithms.[10] [11] It also aims to be privacy-focused with no third party analytics or tracking.[12] [13] 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 as an "ethical" alternative to Instagram.[14] [15] Users can post photos, stories and collections via an independent, distributed and federating photo community in the form of connected Pixelfed instances.[16] 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.[17]

Each post allows for a maximum of 10 photos or videos attached.[18] Pixelfed also shares some of Mastodon's features, including an emphasis on discovery feeds and content warnings.

The development of official apps for both Android and iOS is still in progress[19]

Security

Pixelfed supports two-factor authentication via TOTP mobile apps.[20]

Reception

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

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."[21]

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.[22] Charlie Sorrel of Lifewire said Pixelfed shows the flexibility of Mastodon, and has the potential to be much better than Twitter because of ActivityPub.[23]

Using Pixelfed has been discussed in books and conference proceedings.[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pépin. Guénaël. 2018-06-15. PixelFed, un embryon d'alternative libre à Instagram. 2022-01-07. www.nextinpact.com. fr.
  2. Web site: Pixelfed Translations in Crowdin. January 5, 2022.
  3. News: Pixelfed . 2020 . . 2023-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921192453/https://nlnet.nl/project/Pixelfed . 2020-09-21 . live .
  4. Web site: Schulman . Ross . 2023-02-02 . The Breadth of the Fediverse . 2023-02-12 . Electronic Frontier Foundation . en.
  5. Book: Klaus Unterberger . The Public Service Media and Public Service Internet Manifesto . September 7, 2021 . University of Westminster Press . 9781914386299 . English . Ebook . 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. .
  6. Web site: PixelFed: A potential open-source alternative to Instagram. January 3, 2022. FOSSLinux.
  7. Web site: Need a Twitter Alternative? Try Mastodon or One of These Other Social Media Networks . 2023-02-12 . PCMAG . en.
  8. Web site: Can Twitter Ever Be Decentralized?. Slate. Kwet. 2019-12-20.
  9. Web site: 2019-11-19. Das Fediverse – die bessere Social-Media-Welt?. 2022-01-07. mobilsicher.de. de-DE.
  10. News: Bhavani . Divya Kala . 2019-11-26 . Mastodon announces Pixelfed, an open-source alternative to Instagram . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-02-12 . 0971-751X.
  11. Web site: 2020-07-26. PixelFed: a rede social open source que é uma alternativa ao Instagram. 2022-02-19. Pplware. pt-PT.
  12. Web site: Anthony. 2019-07-01. My thoughts on Mastodon and Pixelfed, open source social networks. 2022-01-05. Diverse Tech Geek. en-US.
  13. Web site: Pot. 2023-08-12. How to Move Your Instagram Feed to Pixelfed, the Photo App That Doesn't Track Your Every Move. 2024-04-02. Wired. en-US.
  14. Book: Fundamental Challenges to Global Peace and Security . February 5, 2022 . 9783030790714 . 152 . Springer . English . Hardcover . "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 ....
  15. Web site: Krasnoff . Barbara . Eight photo-centric social sites that are not Instagram . The Verge. August 2022 .
  16. Web site: Berens. Ulrich. 2018-11-03. Pixelfed: Fotos im Fediverse. 2022-01-07. LUKi e.V.. de-DE.
  17. Web site: 2021-11-16. What is PixelFed - Definition, meaning and examples. 2022-02-19. en-US.
  18. Web site: 5 Open Source Alternatives to Social Networks That Preserve Your Privacy. January 2, 2022. MUO. 12 June 2021 .
  19. Web site: Pixelfed for Android and iOS is in active development. 13 July 2020 .
  20. News: Bhavani . Divya Kala . Mastodon announces Pixelfed, an open-source alternative to Instagram . The Hindu . November 26, 2019.
  21. Web site: Making ActivityPub Your Social Media Hub for Mastodon and Other Decentralized Services . 2023-02-12 . en-US.
  22. Web site: Oliver . Andrew C. . 2023-02-20 . Should you leave Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the fediverse? . 2023-02-27 . InfoWorld . en.
  23. Web site: Why Mastodon Apps Should Stop Trying to Copy Twitter . 2023-02-27 . Lifewire . en.
  24. Book: Zotzmann-Koch, Klaudia . 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 . 2022-05-11 . Klaudia Zotzmann-Koch . en. Second .
  25. Book: Zhou . Wanlei . Advances in Web-Based Learning – ICWL 2021: 20th International Conference, ICWL 2021, Macau, China, November 13–14, 2021, Proceedings . Mu . Yi . 2021-11-02 . Springer Nature . 978-3-030-90785-3 . en.
  26. Book: Crossley . Scott . Intelligent Tutoring Systems: 18th International Conference, ITS 2022, Bucharest, Romania, June 29 – July 1, 2022, Proceedings . Popescu . Elvira . 2022-06-24 . Springer Nature . 978-3-031-09680-8 . en.
  27. Book: Thomson . Robert . Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Modeling: 15th International Conference, SBP-BRiMS 2022, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, September 20–23, 2022, Proceedings . Dancy . Christopher . Pyke . Aryn . 2022-09-17 . Springer Nature . 978-3-031-17114-7 . en.
  28. Book: Minnick . Chris . Mastodon For Dummies . McCallister . Michael . 2023-01-19 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-1-394-19338-7 . en.
  29. Book: Mahmoudi . Hoda . Fundamental Challenges to Global Peace and Security: The Future of Humanity . Allen . Michael H. . Seaman . Kate . 2022-02-04 . Springer Nature . 978-3-030-79072-1 . en.
  30. Book: Laet . Tinne De . 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 . Klemke . Roland . Alario-Hoyos . Carlos . Hilliger . Isabel . Ortega-Arranz . Alejandro . 2021-09-08 . Springer Nature . 978-3-030-86436-1 . en.

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