Pixelfed: The Open-Source Revolution to Bring Back Instagram’s Joyful Vibe

Alternative to Instagram Pixelfed introduced its mobile application last week on Android and is now available on iOS. The decentralized, ad-free, and open-source platform, which aspires to provide “a new perspective on photo sharing,” has seen a significant rise in popularity and has even encountered issues with Meta’s moderation.

In addition to its surge in popularity, Pixelfed made headlines this week as Meta, the owner of Instagram, prohibited links to Pixelfed, a decision that Meta is now calling a mistake.

404 Media reports that Meta classified links to Pixelfed.social as “spam,” leading to their removal. While some of these links have since been restored, the timing is quite intriguing.

Pixelfed.social stands as the largest server on the open-source platform. Launched in 2018, Pixelfed asserts that this server has experienced “unprecedented levels of traffic” in the past few days, with some, including Engadget, suggesting that the increase in traffic is a reaction to Meta’s criticized decision to relax its content moderation policies.

Although Meta stated that this reversal would “decrease censorship,” it seems that, similar to the so-called free speech advocates at X (formerly Twitter), Meta may have intended to imply that only certain content would get through while other content, deemed harmless, would still face traditional suppression. It would not be the first instance of a social media company blocking access to rival platforms while promoting a lack of censorship.

In addition to offering various Instagram-like functionalities such as image sharing, commenting, photo filters, likes, direct messaging, detailed privacy settings, and even features lacking on Instagram, like album sharing, Pixelfed guarantees protective measures that Meta applications no longer provide. The open-source photo-sharing application vows to be secure, dependable, and free from corporate control. The platform commits to uphold fundamental rights, respect privacy, ensure freedom from surveillance, defend against hate speech, protect at-risk communities, and more.

“Pixelfed encompasses many things, but one aspect it is not, is an opportunity for venture capitalists or others to disrupt the experience. I’ve declined VC funding and refuse to introduce advertisements of any kind into the project,” Pixelfed developer Daniel Supernault stated on Mastodon.

“Pixelfed is for the community, end of story,” Supernault emphasizes.

Thus far, the community is reacting significantly. Pixelfed currently reigns as the top social application in numerous markets on the Google Play Store, and it is set to achieve similar recognition on iOS.

New users can initiate their experience on Pixelfed via the newly released mobile apps or by registering on the Pixelfed website. After registration, users can select the server of their preference, follow profiles, and commence posting. Pixelfed is free to use and operates without advertising. The app’s code is open source, and the platform does not gather user information.

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Image credits: Pixelfed