The looming possibility of a U.S. ban on TikTok has ignited significant innovation within the open social web community. A variety of new applications are being developed which might eventually act as alternatives to TikTok, appealing particularly to users of the open source, decentralised social platform Bluesky, and its supporting technology, the AT Protocol.
Currently, the TikTok ban is temporarily on hold after President Trump granted parent firm ByteDance a 75-day extension to negotiate an agreement. Nevertheless, the ability of the government to potentially eliminate TikTok has left users anxious about its prospects. At the same time, creators and small businesses are understandably concerned about how losing TikTok might impact their earnings.
Highlights
Creating a “TikTok for Bluesky”
One promising solution emerging is Bluesky, a decentralised, open-source social network allowing users to select their own server and algorithm and to tailor their moderation settings according to their preferences. Users can easily migrate their accounts to a different server without losing their username, connections, or content. Additionally, individuals can establish their own version of Bluesky by setting up a personal data server or relay.
Bluesky is designed with a vision for the future web, empowering users to reclaim authority over their personal data and online activities from major tech companies. This initiative aligns with the broader open social ecosystem known as the fediverse, which operates on a distinct protocol and includes apps such as Mastodon, among others.
Multiple new projects are currently in progress to introduce a video-centric experience to Bluesky, either through video-first Bluesky clients or as entirely new applications built on the same AT Protocol used by Bluesky.
Below are some of the video applications at different development stages that aim to serve Bluesky users.
Bluescreen
Developed by Berlin’s Sebastian Vogelsang, who previously launched the Bluesky client app Skeets, Bluescreen promises to be a new application that centres around videos shared on the Bluesky platform. Similar to his Instagram alternative Flashes, which is also under development, Bluescreen is being created swiftly due to Vogelsang’s ability to repurpose some of the existing code from Skeets.
Like Flashes, Bluescreen aims to provide a video-centric Bluesky experience by filtering current Bluesky feeds for video content and enabling uploads. As Bluescreen operates on Bluesky’s network, users’ videos will also be displayed on their profiles within the official Bluesky application, and interactions with those videos, such as comments and engagement, will be visible in the Bluescreen app as well.
Vogelsang developed the initial prototype of Bluesky in less than two hours, according to his statement, and has been sharing teasers of the app on its Bluesky account as further progress is made.
The application includes several interaction features akin to TikTok, such as Likes, Comments, Saves/Bookmarks, and more.
Reelo
Reelo is an initiative designed to build an app reminiscent of TikTok that caters to Bluesky users. However, unlike other approaches, Reelo is not simply an overlay or filter to enhance Bluesky’s current social platform. Instead, it is focusing on creating an independent application based on the AT Protocol. This allows Reelo to take advantage of the same level of transparency and data control found in Bluesky while avoiding some of the restrictions associated with building directly on Bluesky.
Image Credits:Reelo
Reelo is expanding its capabilities by incorporating a variety of features, such as the ability to upload video lengths of up to three minutes, utilize special effects, access a library of music and sounds, and implement livestreaming in the future. Users will have the option to seamlessly post their video content directly on the app. As noted by the company in a message on Bluesky, this development provides users with a more immersive and customized video experience compared to other applications built on Bluesky, including competitors like Skylight.
Opting to develop a standalone app on the AT Protocol, as opposed to simply layering on Bluesky, does mean a lengthier development process. Reelo anticipates that both the front end and back end will be ready by the end of February, with an official launch scheduled for March 20, following an initial testing phase.
Similar to many applications currently in development, Reelo features a vertical video feed reminiscent of TikTok, with options for liking, commenting, and sharing available on the right side of the screen.
Skylight
The Skylight team is dedicated to creating an alternative to TikTok, inspired by interest from Mark Cuban in supporting potential startups in this arena.
This app’s founders are Seattle-based co-founders Victoria (“Tori”) White, who possesses a background in creating customised websites and applications, alongside React developer Reed Harmeyer. They are promoting Skylight as an “AT Protocol TikTok,” a description that holds true given that Bluesky operates on AT Protocol.
However, by developing Skylight as an extension of the existing Bluesky platform, the app is subject to certain limitations.
The Bluesky social network restricts videos to a maximum length of 60 seconds and a size limit of 50MB. Therefore, if Skylight wishes to introduce support for longer videos or additional features, the team must wait for Bluesky to revise its guidelines or create a dedicated app based on the AT Protocol. The founders of Skylight opted not to provide an interview, leaving their long-term plans unclear.
Despite this, Skylight possesses an advantage—its video-centric app is currently in beta testing on both iOS and Android, enabling early users to experience it before the public launch.
Features within the app encompass likes, followers, comments, and individual profile pages. The option for video uploads is still under development.
Videos for Bluesky
Recently, the generically titled Videos for Bluesky debuted on the App Store, another app built upon the Bluesky framework. This new application is the creation of “MszPro,” or Hoshida Takiyoshi, an independent developer from Japan.
Takiyoshi has a passion for experimentation, having developed approximately 60 applications so far, including the SoraSNS app, which combines access to decentralised networks like Mastodon, Bluesky, Misskey, and Firefish.
Like others, Videos for Bluesky enables users to browse videos shared on the Bluesky social network via a vertically scrolling user interface with buttons for Likes, Repost, and Reply that are familiar to users.
This application also includes user profiles, built-in search functionality, follow buttons, and a local “For You” feed that showcases trending videos along with options to view videos from followed users or from customised feeds. Additionally, an algorithm is integrated to learn user preferences over time, according to the developer.
Recent updates to the app have introduced features like notifications and a new post composer prioritising video uploads, among others.
Users can unlock a one-time “Pro” in-app purchase to access post-analysis features and personalise their video viewing experience through a custom timeline.
New features such as NSFW filtering, a video recording function, style filters, downloads, bookmarks, and others are on the way.
The Videos for Bluesky application is currently available exclusively on iOS, though the developer may consider an Android version if user interest is sufficient.
Hoshida observes that “Bluesky is still a relatively new platform, but its well-documented protocol makes it easy for indie developers like myself to integrate new features.” He notes that “unlike centralised social media, Bluesky’s API does not require app developers to register for a developer account, facilitating rapid involvement and innovation. The open-source nature of the platform allows developers to easily explore the code to understand interaction with various API functionalities.”
In the future, the developer intends to create additional social applications, including one for Bluesky geared towards photos and a news reader for the fediverse.
Exploring Flipboard’s Surf
Flipboard has introduced Surf, an innovative app that goes beyond merely aggregating videos. Recently, it incorporated its own video feed, following Bluesky’s introduction of a custom video feed.
Surf initially catered to video content sourced from Bluesky’s trending video section and other posts tagged with #SkyTok. However, it is set to enhance user experience by personalising individual feeds in future updates, allowing for a unique engagement with the app that distinguishes it from Bluesky’s offerings.
Users can access Bluesky’s video feed through the Surf app, which also enables the creation of custom feeds to monitor various content types across the open social web, encompassing Bluesky, Mastodon, RSS, and much more.
Currently, Surf is in private beta testing, but interested individuals can join a signup list to stay informed about its launch.
Introducing BlueSky Reels
BlueSky Reels (the website is still forthcoming) is an ambitious project aiming to fill the void left by TikTok. Spearheaded by Craig Merry, this application will focus exclusively on video content and basic user interactions. Future expansions may incorporate support for additional personal data servers beyond just Bluesky’s platform.
The content for this application is generated from Bluesky, but there are plans to integrate features that are currently unavailable on Bluesky.
Craig Merry highlights the intention to create a seamless method for users to generate and moderate curated feeds, taking inspiration from the moderation style seen on Reddit.
The app is expected to enter beta testing soon across iOS, Android, and web platforms.
