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YSK: You can now log in to Pixelfed using your Mastodon account

YSK: You can now log in to Pixelfed using your Mastodon account

EDIT: Not sure when this was implemented, but I first saw this post here - https://lemmy.fmhy.ml/post/686097

@youshouldknow

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  • not to be spicy, but... in all honesty, what's the difference between posting on Pixelfed or on Mastodon. Post image + caption. Same on both, except on Mastodon I can choose not to post an image. I know Pixelfed is image-first, but if your friends and followers are on Mastodon and see/like/reblog my photos there. why would one need/want a Pixelfed account to manage too?

    Know what I mean? I'm just struggling to justify yet-another-social media account, especially as I wind down my time on IG.

    • Mastodon has limits for number of pictures. Pixelfed has higher limits out of the box. Pixelfed has image filters available. Mastodon doesn't seem to. Pixelfed's UX is oriented toward picture management. Mastodon's is oriented toward the textual experience.

      They're different products that happen to share a protocol.

    • Perhaps the restriction to always have an image is the main point. Threads also seem just like Instagram, but without the photos.

      • ironically, with the push for Threads, after the pressure to post Reels in the IG feed, people have been filling Threads with images again lol. It really feels like Threads will be the new IG feed at some point.

        Yeah, I get the idea is to force an image, but I guess I've been struggling lately with why bother with that limitation? Not sure if I'm describing it well.

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      • no, I understand all of that... i'm just wondering what the point of having an instagram-like experience in 2023 when you can post photos and be a photo account on Mastodon. It does the same job, especially when it's all interconnected via the Fediverse.

        In the end, it's all the same. Twitter, Threads, Mastodon, Instagram, Pixelfed, heck even Facebook: Post content, like/share/comment.

        • It does a very similar job, but also it is good just to have options. I like that everyone on PixelFed is an account for photos so I know what I'm getting from everybody else. I also like the portfolio view which is a nice view of only the photos you want from your profile without any text or social aspect at all. It's a good quick link to give friends and family who want to see your photos.

          • true, love options, for sure! I guess it really comes down to that. Same with calckey and other "share content" platforms here. If you are image-first, pixelfed it is. But I guess then you can use Mastodon to get the word out to follow on pixelfed.

        • UX/UI design mainly. All social media follows a fairly similar pattern, post pictures/text and other people react to it. The difference comes from what the UI of different social media platforms emphasizes, Pixelfed emphasizes pictures, Mastadon emphasizes short-form text posts, Lemmy emphasizes variable posting types with extensive comment threads. Because each one emphasizes a slightly different medium, they can design their UI/UX to prioritize their whole schtick while making design decisions that may not be good for other mediums. Everybody has a different preference for the ways they like to consume content, so I understand that people prefer Mastadon/Pixelfed even though I personally prefer Lemmy.

    • It's just a different front end, which is true for the entire fediverse. If you don't care for an Instagram like experience, just follow from mastodon.

    • It's mostly just media first but there are a few features that don't federate. Portfolios and stories are exclusive to pixelfed. And even if you just want to scroll a bunch of photos there just isn't a better way. They have the best Fediverse app I've ever used and the experience is great because it was designed specifically for that purpose.

      Not that there's anything wrong with not seeing the appeal. The best thing about the Fediverse is that you can just be wherever you want. So you can post on Mastodon and follow whoever you want on Pixelfed too without having to make another account.

      • Yeah, I'm not knocking pixelfed, love the platform and idea, just starting to feel redundant some to me. It's all good though, yo are right that you get the portfolio view and other features.

        • I think it just comes down to what you said: do you really want an experience like IG? If you're a hard no, it's probably not for you. I was kind of in the same place as you re: IG. Looking at my IG feed it's about 50% recommended and promoted. So half my feed is what Meta wants me to see. It sucks now and I was over it. But a version of that without ads or algorithms is honestly pretty great -- and I was skeptical of that until I tried it. I mean, IG has higher engagement than any network except TikTok, so it's a format that people seem to like. They just hate the Meta part :)

          I don't think it takes away from Mastodon at all though. Like, I'm using Calckey which is very similar to Masto (and being renamed in literally 40 minutes) and it's not harming the community at all. I think Pixelfed will probably be the thing that makes people realize how powerful the Fediverse is. To most people, being able to communicate between, say, Masto and Misskey probably just seems like having different clients. But the idea that you could communicate with all of Facebook and Twitter from an IG account is kind of mindblowing.

          • I have calckey too - super curious what the rebrand will be!

            • Me too! And stoked to see if they actually make calckey.social magically transform into whatever [newthing].social is!

              • totally, I like calckey - while it was a bit "too much" for my needs, I know many people who wanted the more rich-text (and rich interaction) version of microblogging. Will check in later to see how the transition went.

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                • Love it!

                  Added bonus: people won't think they're being invited to quickbooks.social anymore ;)

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