Explore Open Source Alternatives to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp: Fundraising on Kickstarter!
In a bid to enhance the open social web, the developer behind popular open-source alternatives to mainstream social media platforms, including Pixelfed, Loops, and Sup, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding for further development. This initiative aims to empower users and foster a decentralized social media ecosystem.
Exploring the Growth of the Fediverse
The trio of applications is part of the expanding fediverse, which operates on the ActivityPub protocol, similar to the popular platform Mastodon. Following the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk in October 2022, many users have migrated to decentralized alternatives, driving a surge in signups for platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky.
Meta’s Response to the Rise of Decentralization
Recognizing the shift in user preferences, Meta launched a competing service called Instagram Threads in 2023, aiming to integrate with the fediverse through ActivityPub. This move highlights the growing importance of decentralized platforms in the social media landscape.
Funding for Continued Development
Daniel Supernault, the Canadian developer behind these innovative apps, is seeking to raise funds for ongoing support and enhancement of his open social communities. In a recent post on Mastodon, he urged supporters, “Help us put control back into the hands of the people!”
As of now, the Kickstarter campaign has successfully raised $58,383, surpassing its initial goal, with hopes to reach a target of $1 million to build a dedicated team.
Aspiring for Global Reach
Supernault envisions his suite of apps as the first in the fediverse to connect with a billion users. Despite the significant ambition, there is much work ahead. For example, although Pixelfed has existed for years, it recently launched its 1.0 mobile app, while Loops is still undergoing alpha testing on Apple’s TestFlight. Meanwhile, Sup is expected to be released soon, according to its Instagram page.
Additional Projects and Future Goals
Supernault is also developing a fourth project called PubKit, designed to aid developers working within the fediverse. This toolkit includes:
- Interactive tools for simulating popular activities
- Real-time inbox setup for activity ingestion and debugging
- Tools for inspecting and verifying HTTP Signature implementations
This marks Supernault’s first venture into crowdfunding via Kickstarter, which aims to also benefit the Pixelfed Foundation. A stretch goal includes registering the foundation as a not-for-profit and expanding its team beyond volunteers, addressing concerns regarding project sustainability.
Future Developments and Community Growth
If the campaign succeeds, it could lead to the creation of a blogging app as an alternative to platforms like Tumblr or LiveJournal. The funds will also be directed towards managing the increasing user base, which recently surpassed 200,000 users on the main Pixelfed instance, making it the second-largest server in the fediverse.
This influx of support will enable enhancements in storage, compute power, and security protocols, ensuring that user privacy and safety are prioritized as the apps evolve.
Supernault is keen on introducing end-to-end encryption for enhanced security across the fediverse, further solidifying the commitment to user control and privacy in an increasingly centralized digital landscape.
