- Crowdfunding Success: The Kickstarter campaign for open-source apps Pixelfed, Loops, and Sup has raised over $58,000, with a goal of reaching $1 million to expand the fediverse ecosystem.
- Expanding User Base: Pixelfed has surpassed 200,000 users, becoming the second-largest server in the fediverse, as decentralized social networks continue to grow in popularity.
- Future Plans: The campaign will help fund the transition of Pixelfed into a nonprofit, enhance security and privacy features, and support the development of a blogging app as an alternative to Tumblr and LiveJournal.
The developer behind Pixelfed, Loops, and Sup, open source alternatives to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp, is turning to Kickstarter to raise funds for further development of these apps. The three platforms are part of the expanding open social web, also known as the fediverse, which is driven by the ActivityPub protocol. This decentralized network has gained traction following the increasing disillusionment with centralized social media giants like Meta and X, formerly Twitter.
The fediverse’s growth accelerated after the October 2022 sale of Twitter to Elon Musk, as users sought alternatives to billion-dollar corporations controlling their social media experiences. Mastodon, a popular ActivityPub-powered platform, saw a surge in sign-ups during this period, alongside the rise of other decentralized networks like Bluesky, which uses the newer AT Protocol. Meta, recognizing the shift, launched Instagram Threads in 2023, integrating ActivityPub to compete within the fediverse.
Daniel Supernault, the Canadian developer behind Pixelfed, Loops, and Sup, aims to take these open-source apps to the next level. The Kickstarter campaign, launched on Thursday, has already raised $58,383, surpassing its initial goal. Supernault’s ambitious target is to raise $1 million or more, which would allow him to hire a small team to support the growth of his open social platforms.
Though still in early stages, Supernault’s apps are gaining traction. Pixelfed, an Instagram alternative, just launched its mobile app’s 1.0 version, while Loops is in alpha testing. Sup, a WhatsApp alternative, is expected to launch soon. Kickstarter backers will gain early access to Loops and Sup, while a fourth project, PubKit, aims to provide developers with the necessary tools to build on the fediverse, offering testing frameworks and tools to inspect and debug activities in real-time.
The success of the Kickstarter campaign will not only expand these apps but also allow Supernault to transition his efforts into a nonprofit structure through the Pixelfed Foundation. This move is designed to reduce the risks associated with relying on a single developer and ensure the long-term stability of the project. If the campaign exceeds expectations, future funds will support the creation of a blogging app, as well as bolster moderation, security, and privacy efforts. As Pixelfed and the fediverse continue to grow, Supernault plans to introduce end-to-end encryption to enhance user privacy.
