A Beginner’s Guide to Decentralized Social Media - Pixelfed

Picture from Pixelfed

If you've been online a lot lately, you might have heard of Pixelfed. It became popular in reaction to moderation changes at Meta (the company that owns Instagram), the inauguration of US President Trump and the disaster that was the TikTok ban in the US on January 19, 2025.

At this moment the developer of Pixelfed, Daniel Supernault, has a Kickstarter for Pixelfed, Loops and other projects active, which reached it's goal in less than 24 hours. You can help with the Kickstarter here.

(Update: 15. March 2025) The Kickstarter has finished and collected 133.979 CA$. This is a overachievement of 255%.

Pixelfed is a decentralized social media platform that lets people share photos and build a strong community without relying on big companies. 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 place to share photos that is part of the larger decentralized social media ecosystem. Unlike traditional platforms like Instagram (it's main competitor) or Facebook, Pixelfed doesn’t depend 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 gives users more power over their data and how they use the internet.

ActivityPub is the protocol that Pixelfed uses, which is also the basis for other decentralized platforms like Mastodon and PeerTube. This protocol lets different servers talk to each other, which lets users interact on different platforms while still being in charge of their own accounts.

Features of Pixelfed

Privacy & Control: Since Pixelfed is decentralized, it gives users more control over their content and data. There is no single organization holding all your personal information, 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 is not just a standalone platform but a part of the Fediverse, a collective of decentralized platforms that communicate with each other. This means you can follow users on platforms such as Mastodon and others directly from Pixelfed, and users on other platforms can follow you as well.
Open Source: Pixelfed is completely open-source, which means that anyone can inspect, modify, and contribute to its code. This transparency ensures that the platform evolves in accordance with its users' values and interests.
Focus on Photos: While many decentralized platforms support a wide variety of content types, Pixelfed is specifically designed for photo sharing. Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional photographer, you'll find a community that appreciates visual content.

How to Join

Joining Pixelfed is simple and you can start 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 – Pixelfed's largest general-purpose instance, hosted by the developer.
pixelfed.art is an instance dedicated to sharing art and showcasing artists.
gram.social is a european general-purpose instance hosted by Stux.

The server list at pixelfed.org contains a list of other Pixelfed instances, making it simple to browse and select the one that best suits your needs.

When selecting an instance, consider the following:

Instance Rules: Each instance has its own set of rules for content and community behavior. Before you join, make sure to review these rules.
Instance Features: Some instances may include additional features such as improved moderation, custom themes, or integration with other services.

2. Create an Account

Once you've chosen 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.

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). For more posts like this subscribe to my new newsletter.