Social media used to be fun. You would get to see what your friends and family members have been up to. These days? These days it has become a game of chasing engagement and manipulating the algorithm so that your posts end up on top with a chance to go viral. It has become a very different beast. If you want to return to the glory days, it seems that more Instagram alternatives built on open protocols are popping up that could be worth checking out.
Going decentralized
Decentralized social platforms are gaining traction. Bluesky, Mastodon, and others are examples of such platforms. If you’re wondering what the difference is, a social media platform built on open protocols means everyone gets a peek under the hood. This means no more shady and questionable algorithms powering your feed.
At the moment, social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, and X more or less decide what you see. They push content based on algorithms that assume they know what you want to see. This is typically based on how you engage with posts through likes, shares, and comments.
However, just because you liked and commented on a post doesn’t mean you want to see 10 more posts like it in your feed! Open social networks put control back in the hands of the user, giving you more control over your feed.
Instagram alternatives
If Instagram is your main social media platform, check out these alternatives built on open protocols.
One of those alternatives is Flashes. This platform operates on the Bluesky social network and serves as a photo-centric version of it. Built on the same AT Protocol, it follows Bluesky’s specific requirements for images and videos. This means users get to post up to 4 photos per post and videos that run up to a minute long. At the moment, the app is still in beta, but users can sign up to be a beta testers.
Next up we have Pinksky. Pinksky is similar to Flashes, which was built on Bluesky. However, Pinksky has adopted a UI that is remarkably similar to Instagram. This is good since it makes it easier for Instagram users to understand. Users will also be able to tap into their existing network for friends and followers on Bluesky instead of trying to build an audience from scratch.
Then there is Skygram, which at the moment is a web-based app. It is similar to Pinksky, which offers users a more photo-centric version of Bluesky. Unlike Instagram’s web app, Skygram’s web app actually works a lot smoother and feels lighter. Users also get to change their feeds to different interests depending on what they want to see that day.
Last but not least, there is Pixelfed. Pixelfed is another photo-sharing app built on ActivityPub which is also used by Twitter-alternative Mastodon. The app acts pretty much like Instagram, except it has no ads and displays posts chronologically.
Hard to switch
That being said, as fun as these decentralized platforms are, it might be hard to convince creators to switch over to them. Many creators have spent years building their audience on platforms like Instagram. To ditch all of that and try to rebuild their followers from scratch might not be particularly appealing.