A Beginner’s Guide to Decentralized Social Media - Pixelfed

A Beginner’s Guide to Decentralized Social Media - Pixelfed
Picture from Pixelfed

You may have heard about Pixelfed recently if you have spend some time online. It became popular in reaction to moderation changes at Meta (the parent company of Instagram), the inauguration of US President Trump and the disaster that was the TikTok ban in the US on January 19th 2025.

At this moment the developer of Pixelfed, Daniel Supernault, has a Kickstarter for Pixelfed, Loops and other projects active, which completed it's goal within 24 hours. You yourself can contribute to the Kickstarter here.

Pixelfed is a decentralized social media platform that focuses on sharing photos and building a vibrant community without relying on centralized corporations. In this article, we’ll explore what Pixelfed is, how it works, and how you can join the network and the Fediverse as a whole. If you don't know what the Fediverse is: I've explained it here.

What is Pixelfed?

Pixelfed is a photo-sharing platform that is part of the broader decentralized ecosystem of social media. Unlike traditional platforms like Instagram (it's direct competitor) or Facebook, Pixelfed doesn’t rely on a single company or server. Instead, it operates on a federated model, meaning that anyone can host their own Pixelfed instance, or join an existing one, and interact with users across the entire network. This decentralization ensures that users have more control over their data and online experience.

Pixelfed uses the ActivityPub protocol, which is also the backbone for other decentralized platforms like Mastodon and PeerTube. This protocol allows different servers to communicate with each other, enabling users to interact across various platforms, all while maintaining control over their individual accounts.

Features of Pixelfed

  • Privacy & Control: Since Pixelfed is decentralized, it gives users more control over their content and data. There’s no single organization holding all your personal information, and no algorithmic feeds deciding what you see. You can curate your experience, follow the accounts you enjoy, and share your photos without worrying about privacy breaches.
  • Fediverse Integration: Pixelfed isn’t just a standalone platform. It’s part of the Fediverse, a collective of decentralized platforms that communicate with each other. This means you can follow users on platforms like Mastodon and more, directly from Pixelfed and that users from other platforms can also follow you.
  • Open Source: Pixelfed is completely open-source, meaning anyone can inspect, modify, and contribute to the code. This transparency ensures that the platform evolves in line with its community’s values and interests.
  • Focus on Photos: While many decentralized platforms cater to a wide variety of content types, Pixelfed is designed specifically for photo sharing. Whether you're a hobbyist photographer or a professional, you'll find a community that appreciates visual content.

How to Join

Joining Pixelfed is simple, and you can get started in just a few steps.

1. Choose an Instance

Pixelfed operates on a federated model, so there are multiple instances (servers) you can join. Some instances are focused on specific interests, like photography, art, or activism, while others are more general. Some popular instances are:

  • pixelfed.social – The largest general-purpose Pixelfed instance hosted by the developer of Pixelfed.
  • pixelfed.art – An instance focused on sharing art and showcasing artists.
  • gram.social – A general-purpose instance hosted in Europe by Stux.

You can find a list of other Pixelfed instances on the server list on pixelfed.org, which makes it easy to browse and choose the one that best fits your interests.

When choosing an instance, consider the following:

  • Instance Rules: Every instance has its own set of rules regarding content and community behavior. Make sure you review these rules before joining.
  • Instance Features: Some instances might offer additional features like better moderation, custom themes, or integrations with other services.

2. Create an Account

Once you've selected an instance, you'll need to create an account. This is usually as simple as providing a username, password, and email address. After registration, you can start customizing your profile, uploading your photos, and interacting with others. You can (if your instance allows it) import your posts from Instagram.

3. Start Sharing and Connecting

Pixelfed is all about sharing your photos and engaging with other users. You can upload images, like and comment on posts, and follow other accounts. Since it’s federated, you can even follow users from other platforms in the Fediverse, allowing for a more diverse and interconnected social experience.

4. Engage with the Community

Pixelfed is built on community, so don’t hesitate to engage with other users. You can comment on photos, participate in discussions, and share your own work. The more you engage, the more you’ll get out of the platform.

Ready to dive into the world of decentralized photo sharing? Join a Pixelfed instance and start your journey today! 📸

Edit (06.02.2025, 14:00): Added a sentence about the Kickstarter campaign of Pixelfed and a link to said campaign.

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).