Welcome to another deep dive. Today, um,
we're going to be looking at pixel fed, a platform that's been making some noise
in the social media world. Um, imagine Instagram,
but without the ads, the algorithms and that feeling that someone's always
watching everything you do. That's the promise of pixel fed.
It's a photo sharing platform that wants to give users more control.
Okay. And hey, big shout out to safe server for making this deep dive happen.
Yeah. Thanks to them.
They're the people who can help you get set up with hosting and all that techie
stuff. If you decide to join pixel fed. Yes, definitely check them out.
You can find them over at www.safeserver.dd.
That's right. And you know,
it's really fascinating how pixel fed is part of this movement towards what's
called decentralized social media. It's a bit of a mouthful,
but the idea is pretty simple. Okay. No single company controls the whole network.
Okay. I'm intrigued. Yeah. But let's back up for a sec.
We've got pixel feds, GitHub repository and a summary from their website.
Right. First things first. Okay. What is pixel fed really? Well,
the pixel fed team says it best on their GitHub photo sharing for
everyone. Hmm. It seems straightforward. Yeah.
But there's a lot in that statement for everyone. Yeah. I like the sound of that.
Right. But what does it actually mean in this context?
So think of it this way. Okay.
Traditional social media platforms are like giant shopping malls. Okay.
They're designed to attract as many people as possible,
keep them there as long as possible and ultimately sell them stuff. Okay.
Your data becomes the product. Okay. That analogy makes sense. Yeah.
So where does pixel fed fit in?
Well pixel fed is more like a network of independent cafes. Okay.
Each one has its own vibe, its own rules, its own community.
You choose which cafe you want to hang out in. Yeah.
You're not forced to be part of the giant mall ecosystem. Right.
And importantly, the cafe owners, the people who run the servers. Right.
Can't just sell your data to the highest bidder.
I'm starting to see the appeal, but this network of cafes idea sounds
complicated. Okay. How does it actually work?
That's where the terms we mentioned earlier come in. Okay. Decentralized.
Yeah. Activity pub. Right.
Decentralized means there's no single company calling the shots like those
giant mall corporations. Yeah.
And activity pub is like the language these independent cafes use to talk to
each other.
So if I post a photo in my favorite pixel fed cafe,
someone in a completely different cafe,
maybe even on a totally different platform could still see it.
Exactly.
Imagine posting a photo on pixel fed and having it automatically appear on your
mastodon feed. Wow.
That's activity pub breaking down those platform silos.
This whole network of platforms is called the fed verse. Okay.
It's like a universe of different social media platforms,
we're all speaking the same language. Okay. Mind officially blown.
Let's look at how pixel fed is actually built.
What can we learn from the GitHub repository?
Well the GitHub repository is like peeking behind the curtain.
One thing that jumps out is that pixel fed is built using Laravel. Okay.
Which is a popular framework for websites and applications. Right.
It's known for being reliable and well structured. Okay.
So it suggests that the pixel fed team is serious about creating a stable and
robust platform. And what about the community behind pixel fed? Yeah.
Is it a bustling hub of activity or a ghost town?
Looking at the GitHub repo, you see a long list of contributors,
people who are actively involved in developing and improving pixel fed.
That's great. This is a great sign.
It means there's a passionate community behind it constantly working to make it
better. Right. Plus there are frequent updates and new releases,
which shows pixel fed is a living, breathing project with a promising future.
So it's not just some idealistic experiment gathering dust in the corner of
the internet. Not at all.
Pixel fed is attracting a vibrant community of developers and users who are
committed to building a more open and user centric social media experience.
All right. I'm starting to get the big picture here. Yeah.
Pixel fed is a photo sharing platform built on the principles of decentralization
and user control.
It's part of this Fediverse movement and it's got a passionate community behind
it. Yeah. But let's be honest. Okay.
There are always challenges when you're trying to do something different.
What are some of the hurdles pixel fed faces? Well,
one of the biggest challenges is simply getting people on board. Okay.
Traditional social media platforms have billions of users. Right.
So pixel fed has to work hard to convince people to make the switch. Yeah,
that makes sense. And let's be real. Yeah.
Sometimes choosing a pixel fed instance can feel like picking a subreddit. Okay.
You need to find one that aligns with your interests and community guidelines.
Yeah. But for someone who's tired of the traditional social media game,
pixel fed sounds like a breath of fresh air. It definitely is.
It's about shifting the balance of power,
giving users more control over their data and their online experience.
I'm definitely eager to learn more. Great.
But before we dive into how pixel fed actually works,
let's take a quick pause. Sounds good. When we come back,
we'll explore some of the unique features and functionalities that set pixel fed
apart from the mainstream platforms. Looking forward to it. Stay tuned.
All right. Welcome back to our deep dive into pixel fed.
So before the break,
we were talking about the challenges pixel fed faces like getting people to
switch from those platforms with billions of users. Right.
So let's say I'm ready to give pixel fed a shot. Okay. What happens next? Right.
What can I actually do on this platform? Well, at its core,
pixel fed is all about sharing photos, just like Instagram. Okay.
You can post your photos, add captions, use hashtags,
even include alt text descriptions for people who use screen readers. Okay.
So that sounds pretty familiar. Yeah.
But you mentioned before that choosing a pixel fed instance is like picking a
subreddit. Can you explain that a little more? Sure. So think of it this way.
When you join Instagram,
you're basically joining one giant global community. Right.
But with pixel fed, you choose a specific community to join,
which is called an instance. Okay.
Each instance is like a self contained network with its own vibe and rules
posted on a separate server.
So it's not just one giant pixel fed platform. Right.
It's more like a bunch of smaller pixel fit communities all connected.
Exactly.
You can find instances focused on specific interests like photography art or
even cat pictures. Some instances might be more family friendly,
while others might allow more edgy content. Gotcha.
It's all about finding the right fit for you. That's really cool.
Gives you more control over your online experience. Right.
You're not just thrown into this massive pool of everyone on the planet.
And because each instance is run independently,
the admins have more control over moderation and setting the tone for their
community. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah.
So let's say I've found an instance that looks interesting. Okay.
What kind of things can I actually do once I'm in? Well, as I mentioned,
you can post photos,
you can follow other users both on your instance and on other instances in the
FedEverse. Okay. You can like comment and even repost photos. Oh,
so kind of like retweeting on Twitter. Yeah, exactly.
So far it sounds pretty similar to Instagram in terms of functionality.
What about the look and feel of the platform? Is it user friendly?
Honestly, the interface might feel a bit different from what you're used to on
Instagram. It might not be as polished or sleek, but it's functional.
It gets the job done.
The focus is on giving you control and respecting your privacy rather than
dazzling you with flashy features.
So it's more about substance over style.
Exactly. And remember, this is an open source project,
meaning it's constantly evolving and improving thanks to the contributions of a
dedicated community of developers.
That's awesome. It sounds like Pixel Fed is more than just a platform.
It's a movement.
That's a great way to put it.
It's about reclaiming ownership of your online experience,
connecting with like-minded people and supporting a more decentralized and
ethical approach to social media.
Okay. I have to ask, what about videos?
Can you post videos on Pixel Fed?
Well, right now, Pixel Fed is mainly focused on photos.
But the cool thing about an open source platform is that it can change and
adapt based on what the community wants.
So who knows? Maybe video sharing will be added in the future.
That makes sense. But for now,
if someone's looking for a decentralized alternative to Instagram for their
photos, Pixel Fed is worth checking out.
Absolutely. And remember, even if you're not a photographer,
Pixel Fed is part of a larger movement towards a more open and interconnected
online experience. By supporting platforms like Pixel Fed,
you're helping to create a more diverse and user centric internet.
Well said.
Before we move on to the final part of our deep dive,
where we'll explore the wider implications of Pixel Fed and the Fediverse.
I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
What stands out to you as the most exciting aspect of this platform?
For me, it's the sense of community ownership and the emphasis on user control.
It's refreshing to see a platform that prioritizes those values over profit and
data collection.
I agree. It's about putting the power back in the hands of the people who
use the platform.
Exactly.
So as we wrap up part two, we want to encourage our listeners to think about
what kind of online world they want to be a part of.
Yeah. A good question.
Do you value privacy control and community ownership?
If so, Pixel Fed might be worth exploring.
We'll be back in a moment to delve deeper into the potential implications of
this exciting movement.
And we're back for the final part of our Pixel Fed deep dive.
We've covered what it is, how it works, the challenges,
but now I want to like zoom out. Okay. Right. Look at the bigger picture.
The big picture. Yeah.
What does Pixel Fed's emergence say about the future of social media?
Are we on the verge of some major shift?
I think we might be.
There's definitely a growing awareness of the downsides of centralized social
media. Right. Like what kinds of things, you know, the data collection,
the algorithms that decide what we see the potential for manipulation.
Pixel Fed and the whole Fediverse movement are pushing back against that.
So it's like people realizing they have a choice. Right.
They don't have to accept the status quo. Exactly. For years,
we've been told this is just how social media is. You join a platform,
you agree to their terms and you're stuck in their ecosystem.
But Pixel Fed and these other decentralized platforms are saying no. Okay.
There's a different way. A way where users have more control. Yeah.
Communities make their own rules. Right. And data isn't just a product. Exactly.
It's a more ethical, more democratic approach. I like that. Yeah.
But let's be realistic. Can a platform like Pixel Fed really
compete with the giants like Instagram, Facebook?
Yeah. Those platforms have billions of users and so much money. Right.
It's like David versus Goliath. It is, but remember. Yeah.
Goliath lost in the end. That's true.
I think Pixel Fed's success depends on two things. Okay. What are those?
Awareness and adoption. So people need to know about it. Yes.
And then they need to actually start using it. Exactly.
That's where conversations like this deep dive are so important. Okay. Yeah.
The more we talk about these alternatives,
the more people realize they have choices. Right.
And if enough people make those choices, well, that's when real change happens.
I love that idea that our choices online can actually change things.
It's a powerful idea. And it's not just about individuals. Okay.
It's about communities coming together and demanding something different. Yeah.
A social media experience that matches their values. Speaking of communities,
I'm curious about how this might change things. Okay.
If these platforms become more popular. Yeah.
Will we see a shift away from these huge centralized
platforms towards smaller, more focused communities?
That's a great question. We might see a kind of fragmentation. Okay.
Where people choose specific groups that align with their interests or values.
This could mean more meaningful interactions, a stronger sense of belonging.
But it could also create echo chambers where people are only exposed to
information that reinforces what they already believe. That's a worry.
It is. So how do we prevent that? Yeah.
How do we make sure these decentralized communities stay open?
It's all about promoting dialogue and encouraging interaction between different
communities. Okay. So building bridges, not walls. Exactly.
And also recognizing that even within smaller communities,
there will be diverse opinions, different perspectives.
So as we wrap up this deep dive, what's the key takeaway?
The future of social media isn't decided. Okay.
We have the power to shape it through our choices. Yeah.
If you're tired of the status quo, if you want more control, more privacy,
a more ethical experience. Yeah. Explore the alternatives.
Explore platforms like Pixel Fed, dive into the Fediverse,
join the movement towards a more decentralized internet.
And if you're looking for help navigating this new landscape,
remember safe server is there to help. That's right.
They can help with hosting consulting and all your digital transformation needs.
You can find them at www.saveserver.d.
Exactly. Thanks again to safe server for supporting this deep dive. Yeah.
Big thanks to them. And thank you to our listeners for joining us. Yes.
Thanks for listening. We hope you found it informative and inspiring.
We hope so. And we'll see you on the next deep dive.