A Beginner’s Guide to Decentralized Social Media - Loops

A Beginner’s Guide to Decentralized Social Media - Loops
Picture by Phoenix Paulina Schmid / Canva

In the aftermath of the disaster that was the TikTok ban in the US are users looking for an alternative to the platform that has revolutionized how we consume content. However, growing concerns about data privacy, centralized control, and algorithmic manipulation as well as the trend of major US-based social media companies like Meta to shift towards the new US administration under President Trump have spurred a search for alternatives.

Enter Loops, a decentralized, privacy-respecting video-sharing platform developed by the creators of Pixelfed, bringing the excitement of short-form video to the Fediverse.

What is Loops?

Loops is a standalone project developed by the same team behind Pixelfed, a decentralized photo and video-sharing network built on the ActivityPub protocol. While related to Pixelfed in its philosophy and underlying technology, Loops is a separate application. Unlike TikTok, which is governed by a single corporation, Loops exists within the Fediverse—a network of interconnected, independent servers (called instances). This decentralized structure empowers users, allowing them to choose an instance that aligns with their values or even host their own. While numerous Pixelfed instances exist, it's worth noting that at this time, there are likely more Pixelfed instances overall than instances specifically dedicated to Loops. Loops functionality is available on compatible instances.

Why Choose Loops Over Traditional Social Media?

  1. Decentralization & Federation
    Loops isn’t controlled by a single entity. Instead, different servers communicate with each other, fostering a diverse and open social network.

    Note: As of writing this post (06.02.2025) is Loops not fully integrated into the Fediverse, the Federation feature is planned and in active development at this time.
  2. Privacy-Focused
    In contrast to mainstream platforms that extensively track user data, Loops prioritizes user privacy and avoids invasive advertising.
  3. Community-Driven
    Instead of being driven by corporate interests, the platform is built by and for its community, with open-source contributions and transparent development.

How to Get Started with Loops

  1. Find a Loops Instance
    Because Loops is decentralized, you'll need to select an instance to join. Resources like FediDB can help you find available instances.

    Note: As of writing of this post (06.02.2025) there is only the loops.video instance but it is planned that instances are self-hostable into the whole Fediverse.
  2. Create an Account
    Once you've chosen an instance, sign up and create your profile.
  3. Start Posting
    Upload short-form videos and interact with content from other users. Because Loops is federated, you can connect with users on other instances as well.
  4. Follow & Discover Content
    Unlike traditional platforms, Loops encourages a more organic approach to finding and engaging with content, emphasizing following accounts rather than AI-driven recommendations.

The Future of Loops

While still under development, Loops represents a significant step towards a more open and user-friendly alternative to TikTok and Instagram Reels. As more users embrace decentralized platforms, and as more Fediverse instances adopt Loops, it has the potential to become a major player in the short-form video space.

Ready to explore the world of decentralized social media? Give Loops a try and take control of your social experience! 📹

If you want to hear more from me you can find me in the Fediverse at @gelbphoenix@social.gelbphoenix.de (Mastodon) or @gelbphoenix@gram.social (Pixelfed).