Growth of the Fediverse (20260517)
Takeaways:
- All-Time MAU Peak (in last 7 Days): Peertube
- Positive Daily Growth (last 7/7 Days): Writefreely
- Positive Daily Growth (last 6/7 Days): Vernissage
- Weekly Growth (>10%, >500 MAU): Writefreely
- Weekly Growth (5-10%, >500 MAU): Peertube
Monthly Active Users^[1]^:
| Software | Current | Yesterday[1D] | Last Week[7D] | Last Month[30D] | 3 Months Ago[90D] | 6 Months Ago[180D] | 1 Year Ago[365D] | All-Time Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piefed | 4369 | 4372 | 4427 | 5033 | 4738 | 1584 | 335 | 6179 |
| Lemmy | 35414 | 35374 | 35526 | 36822 | 36510 | 35964 | 49075 | 72618 |
| Mbin | 751 | 755 | 738 | 739 | 795 | 742 | 807 | 3967 |
| Threadiverse | 40534 | 40501 | 40691 | 42594 | 42043 | 38290 | 50217 | |
| Mastodon | 746910 | 743281 | 743661 | 747788 | 749916 | 677271 | 779014 | 2737163 |
| NodeBB | 64244 | 64681 | 65315 | 76720 | 52056 | 36856 | 63388 | 76801 |
| Pixelfed | 91097 | 87541 | 91900 | 103434 | 103924 | 82174 | 94363 | 338813 |
| Peertube | 47242 | 47702 | 43220 | 45104 | 29431 | 26313 | 30381 | 47853 |
| Writefreely | 14328 | 13998 | 6906 | 3203 | 1407 | 1026 | 8038 | 14709 |
| Loops | 4122 | 4114 | 4027 | 4140 | 7706 | 1506 | 0 | 29821 |
| Bookwyrm | 1428 | 1486 | 1789 | 1955 | 1460 | 2881 | 3091 | 9429 |
| NeoDB | 1760 | 1752 | 1746 | 1845 | 1842 | 1681 | 1776 | 2025 |
| Friendica | 2488 | 2485 | 2484 | 2506 | 1578 | 1339 | 2899 | 4734 |
| Forgejo | 111 | 113 | 113 | 118 | 501 | 449 | 312 | 1168 |
| Catodon | 121 | 119 | 120 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 128 |
| Funkwhale | 244 | 248 | 240 | 245 | 233 | 295 | 302 | 1114 |
| Vernissage | 154 | 147 | 127 | 138 | 99 | 59 | 104 | 161 |
| Flohmarkt | 16 | 16 | 14 | 25 | 37 | 12 | 0 | 40 |
| Fediverse | 1014799 | 1008184 | 1002353 | 1029938 | 992233 | 870152 | 1033885 |
Difference^[1]^:
| Software | -1 Day[1D] | -1 Week[7D] | -1 Month[30D] | -3 Months[90D] | -6 Months[180D] | -1 Year[365D] | -All-Time Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piefed | -3 | -58 | -664 | -369 | 2785 | 4034 | -1810 |
| Lemmy | 40 | -112 | -1408 | -1096 | -550 | -13661 | -37204 |
| Mbin | -4 | 13 | 12 | -44 | 9 | -56 | -3216 |
| Threadiverse | 33 | -157 | -2060 | -1509 | 2244 | -9683 | |
| Mastodon | 3629 | 3249 | -878 | -3006 | 69639 | -32104 | -1990253 |
| NodeBB | -437 | -1071 | -12476 | 12188 | 27388 | 856 | -12557 |
| Pixelfed | 3556 | -803 | -12337 | -12827 | 8923 | -3266 | -247716 |
| Peertube | -460 | 4022 | 2138 | 17811 | 20929 | 16861 | -611 |
| Writefreely | 330 | 7422 | 11125 | 12921 | 13302 | 6290 | -381 |
| Loops | 8 | 95 | -18 | -3584 | 2616 | 0 | -25699 |
| Bookwyrm | -58 | -361 | -527 | -32 | -1453 | -1663 | -8001 |
| NeoDB | 8 | 14 | -85 | -82 | 79 | -16 | -265 |
| Friendica | 3 | 4 | -18 | 910 | 1149 | -411 | -2246 |
| Forgejo | -2 | -2 | -7 | -390 | -338 | -201 | -1057 |
| Catodon | 2 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -7 |
| Funkwhale | -4 | 4 | -1 | 11 | -51 | -58 | -870 |
| Vernissage | 7 | 27 | 16 | 55 | 95 | 50 | -7 |
| Flohmarkt | 0 | 2 | -9 | -21 | 4 | 0 | -24 |
| Fediverse | 6615 | 12446 | -15139 | 22566 | 144647 | -19086 |
Change (%)^[1]^:
| Software | -1 Day[1D] | -1 Week[7D] | -1 Month[30D] | -3 Months[90D] | -6 Months[180D] | -1 Year[365D] | -All-Time Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piefed | -0.1% | -1.3% | -13.2% | -7.8% | 175.8% | 1204.2% | -29.3% |
| Lemmy | 0.1% | -0.3% | -3.8% | -3.0% | -1.5% | -27.8% | -51.2% |
| Mbin | -0.5% | 1.8% | 1.6% | -5.5% | 1.2% | -6.9% | -81.1% |
| Threadiverse | 0.1% | -0.4% | -4.8% | -3.6% | 5.9% | -19.3% | |
| Mastodon | 0.5% | 0.4% | -0.1% | -0.4% | 10.3% | -4.1% | -72.7% |
| NodeBB | -0.7% | -1.6% | -16.3% | 23.4% | 74.3% | 1.4% | -16.4% |
| Pixelfed | 4.1% | -0.9% | -11.9% | -12.3% | 10.9% | -3.5% | -73.1% |
| Peertube | -1.0% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 60.5% | 79.5% | 55.5% | -1.3% |
| Writefreely | 2.4% | 107.5% | 347.3% | 918.3% | 1296.5% | 78.3% | -2.6% |
| Loops | 0.2% | 2.4% | -0.4% | -46.5% | 173.7% | 0.0% | -86.2% |
| Bookwyrm | -3.9% | -20.2% | -27.0% | -2.2% | -50.4% | -53.8% | -84.9% |
| NeoDB | 0.5% | 0.8% | -4.6% | -4.5% | 4.7% | -0.9% | -13.1% |
| Friendica | 0.1% | 0.2% | -0.7% | 57.7% | 85.8% | -14.2% | -47.4% |
| Forgejo | -1.8% | -1.8% | -5.9% | -77.8% | -75.3% | -64.4% | -90.5% |
| Catodon | 1.7% | 0.8% | -1.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -5.5% |
| Funkwhale | -1.6% | 1.7% | -0.4% | 4.7% | -17.3% | -19.2% | -78.1% |
| Vernissage | 4.8% | 21.3% | 11.6% | 55.6% | 161.0% | 48.1% | -4.3% |
| Flohmarkt | 0.0% | 14.3% | -36.0% | -56.8% | 33.3% | 0.0% | -60.0% |
| Fediverse | 0.7% | 1.2% | -1.5% | 2.3% | 16.6% | -1.8% |
Tracker Comparison^[1,2]^:
| Software | Fediverse-Observer^[1]^ | FediDB ^[2]^ |
|---|---|---|
| Piefed | 4369 | 4923 |
| Lemmy | 35414 | 45018 |
| Mbin | 751 | 1311 |
| Threadiverse | 40534 | 51252 |
| Mastodon | 746910 | 992214 |
| NodeBB | 64244 | 5157 |
| Pixelfed | 91097 | 95839 |
| Peertube | 47242 | 44937 |
| Writefreely | 14328 | 9013 |
| Loops | 4122 | 4160 |
| Bookwyrm | 1428 | 3810 |
| NeoDB | 1760 | 1776 |
| Friendica | 2488 | 3243 |
| Forgejo | 111 | 1659 |
| Catodon | 121 | 0 |
| Funkwhale | 244 | 744 |
| Vernissage | 154 | 158 |
| Fediverse | 1014799 | 1213962 |
- Source: [1] Fediverse-Observer, [2] FediDB
Notes:
- Threadiverse is Piefed, Lemmy, and Mbin. Fediverse only accounts for listed software [17], not the other [112] software tracked by Fediverse-Observer.
- Fediverse-Observer provides daily MAU back to 20221130. FediDB only provides a current snapshot (snapshot within the last 15 minutes, no time series data) and only tracks some of the software [67].
- FediDB seems to use unclear math to get there counts and overestimate the MAU on most software (see previous post, if interested in learning more).
Also of Note: I will probably have a threadiverse instance analysis post tomorrow. Still just figuring out how to create a data post about 500+ servers... I guess we'll find out how I did it tomorrow.
Edit: removed a word.
The Threadiverse feels a lot busier than 40k MAU but I suppose it's possible we are all mostly the .01% of Reddit who wouldn't (couldn't) shut up.
I didnt think about it until you commented. That would track.
Today and yesterday's Lemmy growth is probably an anomaly. PieFed instances have been forced by an irresponsible disclosure to temporarily close down for security update.
Piefed.zip has been down for entire Saturday and directed its users to register to lemmy.zip
This is now the 2nd time in a week in which I'm reluctantly compelled to ask for more info. :S
Someone used an LLM to do a basic vulnerabilities scan on the Piefed codebase and then posted about it.
Okay, thank you for answering-straightly.
So... from what I gather, the whole thing's a bit controversial, or obscure, or hard to verify very well..?
There's conflict over whether it was disclosed responsibly. On one side, using an LLM this way is basic shit that quite literally anyone can do now. No actual skill or special resources required. On the other side, not sharing vulnerabilities with the public until the dev has had some time to fix their shit is the gold standard of responsible disclosure. There's also weird interpersonal drama involved but I don't really know the background.
Okay, but I still don't get what's going on, here.
For example, I specifically asked for some "AI help" as a way of imagining some art styles, here:
https://piefed.social/c/eurographicnovels/p/2041702/down-the-rabbit-hole-4-pics-link-to-12-from-other-books-how-steadman-blew-up-tenniel-s
I thought to myself that it was just a sketch, and there was no reason to pass it off as anything more than that...
Not sure but AI is controversial and tends to provoke people, especially in an artistic context. I wouldn't take anything anyone says to you around here too seriously.
Could it be related to the main Piefed dev calling out dbzer0 moderators' use of AI for moderation and getting under fire on Hexbear?
I will respond with a modified fedimeme
Oof, I guess I'm probably too old too understand that, and this is beginning to sound like internet drama I didn't need, anyway...
Thanks; nevermind.
Agreed. It'll be interesting in a month to see if there is a significant dip in MAU or if it just looks like noise.
TIL the Instagram-alike Pixelfed has more monthly active users than the entire threadiverse. I never knew that people were even using Pixelfed in relevant numbers ...
[email protected] I will give it to dansup, Pixelfed is really well done. Easy to use, very inviting, not particularly bogged down by trite engagement features nor people clutching at pearls over which server to join. You upload your pictures, post them, and the comments and likes roll in. It's a really solid UX, with a very supportive -- if not overly chatty -- user base. I'm not at all surprised that it's managed to maintain a significant audience.
Dansup is better at marketing and promoting his platform. Pixelfed as a platform is just decent and the ux is just ok . Vernissage look a lot better but nobody intersat with each other content and i hate the character limits for description.
They do! Its kinda amazing. I have a couple subscribed on mastodon. Its nice to just see media without the massive amount of hottakes from mastodon users treating mastodon like its old twitter.