Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
2

Bluesky Is Getting Its Own Instagram Alternative Called Flashes

Jan 15, 2025 - gizmodo.com
The social media landscape is shifting as TikTok faces potential shutdown, Meta eases content restrictions, and Elon Musk tweaks the X algorithm. Amidst these changes, Bluesky emerges as a promising alternative, leveraging its open protocol to allow developers to create apps using its social graph. Developer Sebastian Vogelsang is creating "Flashes," a photo-centric app built on Bluesky's AT Protocol, which filters out text posts and focuses on photos and videos. Flashes aims to offer a simpler Instagram-like experience, allowing users to share photo slideshows and short videos, without replicating all of Instagram's features.

Bluesky, which gained traction following Musk's acquisition of X, has around 27 million active users but remains smaller than major platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Despite slowed growth, Bluesky's future looks promising, especially with a recent $15 million investment aimed at launching paid subscriptions to reduce reliance on ads and data collection. Unlike many social networks, Bluesky's open protocol supports third-party clients, fostering innovation. Flashes is expected to launch soon, with updates available through its Bluesky account.

Key takeaways:

  • Flashes is a new photo-centric app being developed by Sebastian Vogelsang on top of Bluesky's AT Protocol, allowing users to share photo slideshows and short videos.
  • Bluesky, with an estimated 27 million active users, is growing as a promising alternative to major social media platforms, despite its smaller size compared to Instagram, TikTok, and X.
  • Bluesky's open protocol allows developers to create apps that integrate with its social graph, offering a unique approach compared to other major social networks that restrict third-party clients.
  • The company plans to launch paid subscriptions to reduce reliance on advertising and data collection, following a $15 million investment round in October.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!