Chris TrottierJan 21, 2025

Here’s a list of ActivityPub services that are not Twitter-like, along with a description of what each service does:

There’s a lot more stuff, so let me know what I may have missed.

Pixelfed - Decentralized social media

Learn more about Pixelfed, the free and open-source decentralized photo sharing social media platform

Pixelfed
Show threadScott SpencerJan 22, 2025
@atomicpoet No offense. But, the interaction on these services is next to none. Mastodon is limited enough. But, Pixelfed and so on is next to zero. Which shows me that even the people using Mastodon aren't using these other services. Noble cause? Perhaps. But, I would hate to be the one investing time and money.
Show threadChris Trottier
@LScottSpencer Sorry, what do you mean interaction is next to none? So far today, I have over 1,600 interactions on this post alone. Hell, you’re talking to me right now.
Jan 22, 2025 at 9:00amWeb
Show threadScott SpencerJan 22, 2025
@atomicpoet I have over 20,000 on my recent Threads post. But, I was speaking more of Pixelfed and Peertube.
Show threadChris TrottierJan 22, 2025

@LScottSpencer Well, Pixelfed just released its mobile app last week. It takes time to build a community there, but it doubled in size over the last month – so it’s coming along nicely.

Peertube is a different story because video is quite expensive, which means the bulk of server owners limit registrations on their servers – which also limits the network effect.

All that said, you can build a bustling community on all those services but the skillset is quite different from a service like Threads. You cannot depend on figuring out what the algorithm likes, and thus scale your content for maximum engagement. Instead, you have to take the pre-algorithmic approach of building relationships with people instead of hoping a bunch of randos will just suddenly find your content in their feed.

Show threadScott SpencerJan 22, 2025
@atomicpoet Also, scrolling through your posts I can see that interaction on most is pretty low. When you post specifically about fediverse stuff, it's higher. That's a VERY specific interest group that makes sense on THIS very niche platform.
Show threadChris TrottierJan 22, 2025

@LScottSpencer You’re judging by the wrong metrics.

It’s not about number of interactions. It’s about talking to people who care.

You see, I know exactly what to say to get stuff to go viral on the Fediverse, but most of the time I choose not to. And actually, I often delete stuff because it goes viral.

The few people who comment on my posts about campy sci-fi and horror movies? Those comments mean something to me.

Show threadScott SpencerJan 22, 2025
@atomicpoet Less is less. And of course talking about the fediverse gets views on Mastodon. Give me a break dude. I've been around for a while. That nonsense ain't gonna ride with me. You know the difference between 300 million and 2 million. If you're happy, that's fine. Don't spin any yarn for me. Cause that's what you're doing.
Show threadChris TrottierJan 22, 2025

@LScottSpencer Sorry, I don’t understand. What are you angry about? That you don’t get 20,000 engagements here like you do on Threads?

If that’s what’s important to you, okay. 🤷‍♂️

To me, that’s just a number. I’d rather measure engagements on quality instead of quantity. But you do you.

Show threadScott SpencerJan 23, 2025
@atomicpoet Nope. That's not it. They are quality engagements. I don't care about likes. Conversation is what I'm after if I post something. Otherwise I could just write it in a notebook.