ECHOBEACH

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1 General questions about the fediverse and Pixelfed

I am completely done with Instagram, but can I trust echobeach? 
Yes, definitely! It’s a non-profit project created by and for artists. We started it because we believed in the need for change. We believe that artists can demonstrate how things could be different. The echobeach Foundation will own the platform and ensure it never becomes a commercial enterprise. The project will be completely ‘open source’, so others will always be able to continue it.

What is the fediverse and what is a server?
A server is simply a computer on a network. Big social media companies own both the programme and the network of servers on which the programme runs. They also seem to feel that they own their billions of users — or at least that they can exploit them for power and money.
There have always been people who have felt this is not acceptable. Mastodon was founded in 2016, and has worked with the internet protocol ActivityPub since 2018. This protocol enables an ever-growing number of programs to communicate with each other. Any community (or individual) can operate such a programme on their own (or rented) server in a federated network — the open internet, also known as the Fediverse.
We have a server with ‘managed hosting’ at ProcoliX in Dordrecht. We manage and moderate it ourselves, but ProcoliX solves any technical problems for us: https://procolix.eu/producten-paginas/pixelfed

What is the difference between echobeach and Pixelfed?
With Instagram there is no difference between the program Instagram and the network Instagram. Pixelfed works like Instagram but it is only a program. The Pixelfed network is created by communities that operate their own servers. These servers form a decentralized social network. In fact a common network is created with all other fediverse programs, like the largest one, Mastodon. That is another distinction with centralized social media like Instagram, Facebook, X, Tiktok etc. that hardly cooperate.

I already have a Pixelfed account on another server. Why should I join echobeach?

• Our server is located in the Netherlands. This means you are protected under Dutch law. You can find any server’s location at https://check-host.net. 
• Our server has the same settings as Instagram, such as 20 photos and 2,200 characters per post. This makes it easier to double post and import your Instagram archive.
• As artists have shared interests, we can arrange and develop things in the way that suits us best. Our primary goal is to develop features that make us more discoverable to our audience, curators, etc.
• We will accept all professional artists with a connection to the Netherlands. Over time, people looking for artists will come to us.
• The so-called flagship instances (the platform’s ‘default servers’) are large and appealing, but lack the perks of community building. Pixelfed.social has 73,000 users. So there is a lot more activity but because it has general interest users, it will still be more difficult to find ‘your people’.

Where does the name echobeach come from?
‘Echo Beach’ is a song by Martha and the Muffins. Released as a single in 1980, ‘Echo Beach’ is not a real place. It is a metaphor for a pleasant place that someone thinks of when they are in an unsatisfactory job.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_Beach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvCki9fxA20

I don’t exclusively follow art. Should I stay on Instagram/Linkedin/X just to follow independent journalists?
From an echobeach account, you can follow anyone on any Pixelfed server in the entire Fediverse. The Fediverse is an excellent place to find and follow independent journalists! And without ads or other noise!

I’m not sure if it could be a genuine alternative for me for Facebook and Instagram.
No one is asking you to choose just yet. It will only become a viable alternative if enough people opt to use it. It will require some effort, but costs precede benefits.

If echobeach is only available in one country, it won’t replace Instagram.
With the fediverse, you can reach anyone, and vice versa, not just those on our server. echobeach is intended for Dutch artists, but it is also an international initiative. We want each country to have its own echobeach, all of which will be plugged into each other.

I had a Pixelfed account once and was able to convince people to use it. But ultimately, not much happened.
I had the same experience, but things are changing with our help.

Super initiative, but I have my doubts about the reach of such a platform. Instagram is a terrible company, but I need to reach my clients. They don’t want to be on a clumsy, niche platform. It’s also nice to be on the same platform as your gallery. 
It’s true that echobeach won’t deliver the reach you’re used to anytime soon. That will take time and effort. It’s frustrating, but we have no other choice. Big social media companies will sacrifice our world for ‘shareholder value’ and power. More and more people see it like that, so that creates momentum. If we take the first steps, artists can make an important contribution. We have investigated large art sales platforms. They could be much better, for both the artists and their audience/clients. Then the artists will own it themselves.
We are also contributing ideas for a Pixelfed server for all cultural organisations, including funds, museums, galleries and publications. People are also starting to realise that change is needed there, too.

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2 Financing, sponsorhip, membership and donations

What is your financial plan?
Our hosting company, ProcoliX, will cover server costs until the end of 2027. We are establishing a foundation to apply for subsidies to pay for volunteers, publicity, and, most importantly, to employ developers. This will enable us to support Pixelfed.

Will we have to pay once the sponsorship ends after 2027? 
Server costs are around €100 a month. We will cover this monthly expense through donations, not membership fees. De Waag in Amsterdam has a policy whereby each Mastodon user is asked to make a voluntary donation of €10 per year. With us, the amount would be slightly higher. People are already asking us if they can donate (it is being arranged).

What exactly do you need large subsidies for?
We could do this with a small budget — sounds like fun! So why the large subsidies? echobeach is an ambitious project. We want it to be big and well organised. We need money to compensate volunteers, cover publicity costs, pay for insurance and legal advice, and so on. These are still not large amounts. What is expensive is software development. If we can employ developers, we can contribute to Pixelfed and influence its development. With these subsidies, we can play a serious role and take on more responsibility. By the way, we are not only thinking about cultural funding. It’s about developing independent digital European infrastructure in the public interest.

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3 Questions about signing up

I already have a Pixelfed account. Can I use the username on echobeach?
Yes. Each server has its own usernames. The accounts are independent. 

If my name is Jan Smit, can that be my username?
No, usernames have limitations: there can be no spaces or special symbols, except the underscore character. The maximum length is 30 characters. For you, it could be: Jan (if it is still available), Jansmit, JANSMIT, JanSmit or jan_smit.

Who will monitor compliance with the server rules? What do you mean by ’no anti- semitism’? Its definition is the source of some discussion.
You are asking about point two of the ‘server rules’: ‘We want this to be a safe space. No fascism, racism, colourism, xenophobia, casteism, sexism, misogyny, misogynoir, homophobia, transphobia, ableism or fatphobia. No body-shaming, and no targeted misgendering, deadnaming, or promotion of so-called ‘conversion therapy’. No Zionism or anti-Semitism either.’ As you can see, both Zionism and anti-Semitism are undesirable. This clarifies our position on the matter.
The rules were compiled in cooperation with someone familiar with current social media standards and discussed in the Signal group of Echobeach users at the time. There will be a review after we have sought advice regarding ‘platform responsibility’.
Echobeach will be structured as a community and an artists’ collective. Ultimately, the group will decide what the rules should be. Compliance will also be monitored by the community. If you are logged in, any post will come with a button for ‘moderation tools’. Reports will be sent to a dedicated committee that will decide what action is required (that committee is still to be formed).

 

I already have two Pixelfed accounts, can I transfer them to echobeach?
It is possible to migrate follows and followers, but we found out that it can go wrong. If you don’t have many, it’s safer to search for each person individually on your echobeach account and follow them from there. This might be less work. A ‘full migration’ feature has been promised. However, at this time, it is not possible anywhere in the Fediverse, including Mastodon.

Is Echobeach exclusively for autonomous artists, or also for other creators such as illustrators and designers?
The platform is intended for professional artists with a link to the Netherlands. While it is very inclusive, there are boundaries. Each application will be assessed by the application committee. Whether an illustrator or designer will be accepted depends on the individual application. The committee will have to identify a serious autonomous element.

What is permitted on echobeach? Just fine art?
Everyone on the platform can post whatever they like, just as they did on Instagram. This includes photos of your travels or your cat. As long as it falls within the ‘server rules’ (see https://echobeach.nl/site/about).
We don’t just allow visual artists. Music and sound, for example, can also be art. However, you must be the author of the work. AI work is permitted, but it often does not meet this criterion.
Eroticism and nudity are permitted, but pornography is not. There are plenty of specialised platforms for porn, manga, new-age and other ‘sub-cultures’, many more than for art.

I am not a professional artist. How can I follow what’s happening on echobeach?
If you follow Echobeach accounts from another Pixelfed server, such as pixelfed.com, you should be able to see them. You can also follow them from Mastodon, but the profiles will look different and you will only see a maximum of four images per post and 500 characters of text. Posts could have up to 20 images and 2,200 characters. So perhaps you will not see everything. However, you can click through to the original post to view it. Mastodon is better for sharing and following news items. I use both.

What should I write in the ‘Art practice Info’ section? What a fuss!
Applications will be assessed by volunteers who are also on the platform. They will need some information in order to do so. In most cases, stating your full name and website address is enough. If you do not have a website, or if yours does not contain a CV, please describe your art practice to them. Where do you find your audience?

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4 Problems logging in 

When I log in, I get the message: ‘These credentials do not match our records’. What am I doing wrong?
Nothing. It often works if you try a different browser. Contact us if this problem persists.

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5 Adapting your profile page/bio and Settings

When I try to fill out my profile info, I get a screen full of code.
This issue is usually resolved by trying a different browser. Contact us if the problem persists.

I get an error message when I fill out my website address.
Make sure you use the full address, e.g. https://yourwebsite.nl. You can also use it like that in your bio, which allows you to display more than one link.

Is it a good idea to change my Settings?
Yes. Adjust your settings to increase or decrease your privacy, or to make it easier for people to find you.
To improve discoverability, go to Privacy and uncheck ‘Manually review follow requests’, ‘Disable search engine indexing’ and ‘Disable embeds’. Check anything else in that list. Click SUBMIT.

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6 Posting

I get the message ‘your post is unlisted and flagged for review’
As a precaution against spam the first post from any account has to be reviewed by a human.

Do I need an app to post or can I do it in a browser? 
You can post when you are logged in. Use any browser or the Pixelfed app.

Can we upload video?
That is different for each Pixelfed server but with us it is possible. There can be one video and multiple photo’s in one post.

I do not just post my own work but also work by others. Is that allowed?
Certainly. We want everyone to keep doing what they did on Instagram. Posting work by others is allowed but of course it does need proper attribution.

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7 Following and getting followed

Where can I see who to follow on echobeach aar kan ik zien wie ik op echobeach? At ‘discover’ I only see some images.
Discover is not that handy. Have a look at echobeach.nl/aloha. Or if you want a full list: look at chobeach.nl/ron. He is the manager and follows everybody.

How to I post to echobeach.nl/aloha?
Simple: add @aloha to your post.
To keep it orderly there are some limitations: any person can only post once every 14 days and a maximum of two posts total. If you repost more the oldest post will be removed.

How do I post to echobeach.nl/agenda?
Announcements of exhibitions and events can be added to echobeach.nl/agenda. Just add @agenda to your post. Also add a hashtag for the location (city, region), for example #agendaRotterdam or #agendaArnhem, etc. (Important: hashtags are convenient but add them before you commit your post. If you add it after that Pixelfed/the fediverse will not process it anymore).
Request: each person should post an event only once.

I am on a different server but I am unable to find anyone on echobeach. Should I have an echobeach account?
Servers can only see each other if they have been in contact before. Each server maps their own network. There is no general map of the fediverse. 
If you cannot find our accounts through your servers search bar, then find the full account address and use that. (For example https://echobeach.nl/ron our managers account). You can see and follow that account. This should familiarize your server with ours. 
We have been promised improvements to the proces of federation. 

How can I see posts from others on echobeach and follow them.
If you want to see a list of everybody on echobeach (even those who have not posted yet) visit echobeach.nl/ron. As our manager Ron follows everybody with an account. He also follows accounts on other servers including mastodon accounts, etc.
Tip: starting out follow anything thet looks fun and interesting. There are no algorithms to help fill your Home Feed. In the beginning it will be empty untill you start following people. The Local feed shows you everything that is posted on our server. The Global Feed shows the most popular posts from what our server sees from the fediverse. (Because we are all artists much of it is art related)

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8 Browser or app

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Is there an app for this platform?
There is a Pixelfed app for iOS and one for Android. I’ve heard there are also (better?) third-party apps to combine Pixelfed ánd other fediverse platforms.

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9 Instagram archive migration

I’ve heard there is a way to copy all you Instagram posts to your Pixelfed account. Is that right?
You can download your Instagram archive and upload it to echobeach. You would have to follow the prescribed steps exactly. It works quite wel but not a 100%. There is also a chance thta missing posts will magically appear after the next update. If you plan to delete your Instgram account it would be smart to save your Instagram download tuntill you know the migration was successful. More info here: https://echobeach.nl/p/start/942843312729663379
Such a full migration is not possible between fediverse servers yet. We would argue for that.
If you have multiple Instagram accounts it is possible to combine them into one account on echobeach.

I’m trying to import old posts from Instagram but it does not seem to work. The file size is 522 MB. What can I do?
There is a (anti-spam) condition that your account has to be active for at least one day. Also take into account that the download and especially the upload can take a while. Sometimes several days depending on server activity.

It was succesfull. So cool! I hope I did not swamp everybodies timeline?
No, archival posts do not appear in the timeline because they were posted ‘in the past’. The disadvantage is that ‘old’ hastags in those post are not indexed. We hope to find a solution for this one day.

update 17/7:
The link on the Pixelfed help page does not seem to be active (thanks Meta). The new page to download your Instagram-content is here: https://accountscenter.instagram.com/info_and_permissions/ and then under “Export your content”.

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10 Coming features

We want to move our Facebook group to your platform. Is that possible?
That is a good ide but creating a ‘public group’ like on Facebook is not possible yet. That feature was promised and would be very useful on our platform.

An important initiative but I aim to become less active on social media.
Echobeach will not be just social media. We want visitors (audience, curators) to be able to discover the platform het platform through the network of artists mutual network. This will make our archives just as important as the current timeline.

I have an account at Collecteurs: https://www.collecteurs.com. I will leave it at that for now.
It was interesting to see Collecteurs. Last year we analyzed a number of similar platforms to see what we could learn. Echobeach wants to serve a similar purpose. We want curators and collectors to easily discover new things. We would stucture this with the artists interests in mind. We would love a feature that would allow artists to style their profile so it will feel more like an actual homepage, that is still a long way off.

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11 Join the discussion

I’ve read you can join the discussion on Signal. What does that entail? What would be expected?
The Signal group is mostly fairly quiet. Now and again somebody has a question. We use it sometimes if we want to know what the community thinks. For example about the rules or who is allowed an account on the platform.

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A dedicated social platform for all Dutch artists. We demand our own place on the open internet, for ourselves and other communities.

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• The echobeach Project
• Visit echobeach
• Join Us
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Press
• About

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On this website you can read about our project, how to join, how to help, or how to start your own platform. Visit the platform itself on echobeach.nl . Meet our artists on echobeach.nl/aloha