Fed up with AI content on Instagram? Check out these alternative apps designed for human artists only
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Social media is flooded with AI-generated content, leading to confusion and frustration for many users. I was once fooled by a realistic AI video of snowy owls with chicks, only to discover it was fake. This experience made me suspicious of everything I saw online. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has embraced AI but often struggles with labeling and moderating AI content accurately. This has pushed creators to seek alternatives like Cara and Pixelfed. Cara, a platform focused on protecting artists, prohibits AI-generated content and offers a safe space for human-created art. Pixelfed, a decentralized photo-sharing app, offers an ad-free, AI-free experience and has gained popularity for its raw and unfiltered content. While not perfect, both platforms are attracting users who are looking for an escape from AI-dominated social media.
Understanding the Shift from AI-Generated Content to Human-Created Art on Social Media
1. AI-Generated Content Overload
Social media is increasingly flooded with low-quality, often bizarre AI-generated content. This includes images, videos, and text that look real but are created by artificial intelligence.
2. First AI-Generated Content Experience
The author recalls being fooled by an AI-generated video of snowy owls with chicks. The video, which looked very real, turned out to be AI-generated. This left the author suspicious of online content.
3. Feeling Overwhelmed by AI Content
The author, once a fan of Instagram for its nature photos, now feels like they’re constantly spotting AI-generated images instead of enjoying real content. This feeling of being overwhelmed is common among users.
4. Meta’s Role in AI Content
Meta (Facebook/Instagram) has embraced AI on its platforms. While it labels AI content, mistakes in labeling and easy opt-outs for labels make it less effective. Moreover, Meta uses public posts to train its algorithms, which has raised ethical concerns.
5. AI Content and Artists' Struggles
Artists are frustrated by AI scraping their work for training models without permission. Some have even taken legal action against platforms like Google and Midjourney for using their artwork without consent.
6. Emerging Alternatives
Some users are leaving mainstream platforms for alternatives that focus on protecting artists. **Cara** is one such app. It is a decentralized platform that prioritizes human-created art and bans AI-generated content.
7. Cara’s Policies
Cara protects artists by opting all users out from AI bot-scraping and moderating the platform to keep it AI-free. It offers a safe space for creators to connect without worrying about their work being stolen for AI use.
8. Pixelfed: Another Option for Photographers
For photographers, **Pixelfed** is an alternative to Instagram. It’s an open-source, decentralized platform that prohibits AI-generated content. Pixelfed uses a chronological feed, unlike Instagram’s algorithmic feed, focusing more on raw, unfiltered content.
9. Challenges with New Platforms
Although Pixelfed is growing rapidly, it still faces some bugs and performance issues. However, users are attracted to it because it doesn't have ads or AI-generated content, providing a cleaner and more genuine experience.
10. Conclusion: Moving Away from Instagram
Many users are leaving Instagram because they feel it has become too saturated with AI-generated content. Alternative platforms like Cara and Pixelfed offer a space where human-created art is prioritized, and users can connect more authentically.
Final Thoughts
As AI-generated content continues to flood social media, users are finding refuge in platforms that prioritize human creativity. This shift represents a desire for more genuine connections and authentic art in the digital world.
