The potential ban on TikTok in the U.S. has ignited a surge of activity within the open social web community. A variety of new applications are currently under development that may serve as viable replacements for TikTok, particularly for those who prefer the open-source, decentralized network Bluesky and its underlying technology, the AT Protocol.
While discussions surrounding the TikTok ban are temporarily suspended—thanks to a 75-day extension granted by President Trump to ByteDance to negotiate a deal—users remain apprehensive about the platform’s future. In the meantime, many creators and small businesses are anxious about the potential impact on their revenue should TikTok cease to exist.
Creating a “TikTok Alternative for Bluesky”
One emerging solution to this dilemma is Bluesky, an open-source decentralized social platform that allows users to select their own server and algorithm while customizing their moderation settings. Users can easily migrate their accounts to different servers without the risk of losing their username, friends, or content. You can even manage your own version of Bluesky by establishing a personal data server or relay.
Bluesky is designed for the future internet, empowering users to regain authority over their personal data and social interactions as a counter to Big Tech control. This vision is shared by the decentralized social ecosystem known as the fediverse, which operates on a different protocol and encompasses applications like Mastodon among others.
Currently, several projects are underway aiming to introduce video functionalities to Bluesky, whether through a video-focused Bluesky client or as an entirely new app utilizing the same AT Protocol underlying Bluesky.
Here are a few video applications in various stages of development that are set to cater to Bluesky’s user base.
Bluescreen
Developed by Berlin-based creator Sebastian Vogelsang, who also launched the Bluesky client app Skeets, Bluescreen is an emerging app that will prioritize video content within the Bluesky social platform. Taking cues from his Instagram alternative, Flashes, which is also in development, Bluescreen is progressing rapidly thanks to Vogelsang’s ability to leverage code from Skeets.
Similar to Flashes, Bluescreen offers a video-centric Bluesky experience, filtering current feeds for video content while enabling uploads. Since it’s built on Bluesky’s platform, videos posted will also appear on the user’s profile in the official Bluesky app, with interactions such as comments visible within Bluescreen.
Vogelsang claims he built the first prototype of Bluescreen in just under two hours,and has shared sneak previews of the app as it develops on Bluesky.
The application includes interactive buttons reminiscent of what TikTok offers, such as Likes, Comments, and Saves/Bookmarks.
Reelo
Reelo is part of a broader initiative to craft a TikTok-inspired application tailored for Bluesky users. Unlike other solutions, this application is not merely a layer over Bluesky; it is being developed as a standalone app on the AT Protocol. This distinction allows Reelo to maintain the same level of transparency and control over user data as Bluesky, while also avoiding the constraints of being built directly on the platform.
This allows Reelo to introduce additional features, such as longer video durations of up to three minutes, special effects, an extensive music library, and future plans for livestreaming. Users will have the ability to upload videos directly to the app, facilitating a “richer, more customized video viewing experience” compared to other platforms built on Bluesky, like the competing Skylight.
However, the decision to develop a standalone app on the AT Protocol rather than a simple overlay on Bluesky implies a longer timeline for completion. Reelo anticipates achieving a full front and back end by the end of February, with an official launch set for March 20 following initial testing.
Like many of the apps currently in development, Reelo emulates TikTok’s style, featuring a vertical video feed with options to like, comment, and share positioned along the right side of the screen.
Skylight
The team behind Skylight has set its sights on creating a TikTok alternative following Mark Cuban’s interest in supporting startups in this arena.
Skylight’s founders, Seattle-based Victoria (“Tori”) White—who has extensive experience in building custom websites and apps—and React developer Reed Harmeyer, are branding the app as an “AT Protocol TikTok,” accurately indicating that Bluesky itself operates on AT Protocol.
However, by constructing Skylight as an overlay on the existing Bluesky infrastructure, the app faces particular limitations.
Bluesky limits videos to a maximum of 60 seconds in length and 50MB in size. Therefore, if Skylight wishes to introduce support for longer videos or additional features, it must either wait for Bluesky to modify its guidelines or create its own dedicated app built on the AT Protocol. (The Skylight founders did not participate in an interview, leaving their long-term plans unclear.)
Nonetheless, Skylight has made strides by entering beta testing on both iOS and Android, giving early adopters a chance to experience it prior to its public launch.
Features of the app will include likes, follows, comments, and user profile pages, though video uploads are still a work in progress.
Videos for Bluesky
Just launched on the App Store, the aptly named Videos for Bluesky is another application built atop Bluesky. This venture comes from Hoshida Takiyoshi, an independent Japanese developer known as “MszPro.”
Takiyoshi is a passionate experimenter, having developed approximately 60 applications to date, one of which is the SoraSNS, providing access to decentralized platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, Misskey, and Firefish.
Like several other apps, Videos for Bluesky allows users to scroll through video posts from the Bluesky platform in a TikTok-style vertical interface, replete with familiar Like, Repost, and Reply functionalities.
The app includes user profiles, a built-in search feature, follow buttons, and a personalized “For You” timeline showcasing trending videos, while also enabling users to view additional videos from accounts they follow or custom feeds. The app’s algorithm learns user preferences over time, according to the developer.
Recent updates have introduced features such as notifications and a new post composer focused on facilitating video uploads.
With a one-time “Pro” unlock in-app purchase, users gain access to post analytics and can view videos from a custom timeline.
Additional features set to be introduced include NSFW filtering, a built-in video recorder, style filters, download options, bookmarks, and more.
The Videos for Bluesky app currently exists only on iOS, although the developer is open to creating an Android version contingent on sufficient user interest.
“While Bluesky is still in its infancy, its well-defined protocol facilitates integration for indie developers like myself to implement novel features,” emphasizes Hoshida. “Unlike centralized platforms, Bluesky’s API does not necessitate app creators to register for a developer account, which encourages more talent to contribute and innovate right away. Furthermore, its open-source nature allows developers to examine the code for guidance on utilizing various API features.”
In the future, the developer plans to work on additional social applications, including one centered on photography for Bluesky and a news reader for the fediverse.
Flipboard’s Surf
Flipboard’s new application, Surf, offers more than just video aggregation; it recently incorporated its own video feed after Bluesky introduced a custom video feed.
Surf initially centered around trending video posts from Bluesky and others related to the hashtag #SkyTok, but plans to personalize the feed for individual users in future iterations. This feature would distinguish it from the standard Bluesky video feed and make it more engaging for users.
The Surf app includes access to Bluesky’s video feed while also permitting users to curate their own custom feeds to track diverse content across the wider open social web, including Bluesky, Mastodon, RSS, and more.
Although Surf is currently in private beta testing, individuals interested in the app can sign up on the signup list.
Canceled: BlueSky Reels
On 2/1/24, Merry announced he would be discontinuing the project. The original information is provided below:
BlueSky Reels (its website is not yet operational) is another initiative that recognizes the market for a TikTok replacement. Developed by Craig Merry, the platform aims to support video-only content along with basic user interactions. Over time, it plans to extend support for personal data servers beyond Bluesky’s ecosystem.
Content will be sourced through Bluesky, with intentions to incorporate capabilities not currently available on Bluesky.
“My main objective is to craft a user-friendly method for creating curated feeds—where content can be moderated directly—similar to moderation within Reddit,” Merry states.
This article has been updated post-publication to clarify which projects have been canceled.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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