Bluesky has unveiled a custom feed for vertical videos within its mobile app, marking a significant step in the platform’s evolution.
This update arrives amidst a wave of social media changes, partly fueled by disruptions in TikTok’s availability and ongoing debates surrounding its services.
New Features for Video Enthusiasts
The newly introduced custom feed focuses on trending vertical videos, accessible via Bluesky’s Explore tab. Mimicking the swipe-to-scroll interface popularized by TikTok, users can now navigate seamlessly through video content.
Bluesky has also incorporated options to pin this feed to the home screen or add it to personalized lists, emphasizing user customization.
In a statement, Bluesky highlighted the platform’s adaptability:
We had to get in on the video action, too — Bluesky now has custom feeds for video! Like any other feed, you can choose to pin these or not. Bluesky is yours to customize.
To ensure a smooth experience, Bluesky recommends restarting the app if the video feed does not appear immediately.
Decentralized Innovation on the AT Protocol
Bluesky’s vertical video feed is more than just a feature update—it signifies the growing potential of decentralized platforms.
Developers are actively building TikTok alternatives using Bluesky’s AT Protocol, a decentralized social media framework.
Emerging apps like Tik.Blue, Skylight.Social, and Bluescreen.Blue are leveraging this technology, though many remain in early development stages.
This decentralized approach underlines Bluesky’s commitment to innovation, offering a distinct alternative in the social media ecosystem.
Bluesky’s Growing User Base
Bluesky is capitalizing on uncertainties surrounding TikTok and similar ByteDance-owned platforms. Over the weekend, Bluesky reached a milestone of 28 million users, showcasing substantial growth and interest as users explore alternatives.
This surge reflects Bluesky’s potential to carve out a niche amidst the shifting dynamics of social media.
Competition Heats Up in the Video Space
Bluesky’s move aligns with broader industry trends as platforms race to capture creator-driven video audiences.
Competitors like Elon Musk’s X have launched vertical video feeds, while Meta’s recent debut of the Edits app aims to rival CapCut.
These developments reflect a broader strategy among platforms to attract creators and users displaced by TikTok’s challenges.
For Bluesky, its focus on innovation and decentralization differentiates it in a crowded market.
Decentralization as a Competitive Edge
Bluesky’s decentralized AT Protocol offers an alternative to traditional social media frameworks. Unlike Mastodon and Threads, which use the widely adopted ActivityPub protocol, Bluesky’s proprietary protocol focuses on giving users greater control over their experience.
This approach may appeal to users increasingly concerned about privacy, moderation, and control on centralized platforms.
The Race to Succeed X
Elon Musk’s acquisition of X has triggered a race among platforms to emerge as the next dominant microblogging service.
While many challengers have faltered—such as Pebble (formerly T2) and Post News—Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon have persisted, each adopting distinct strategies.
Threads has rapidly scaled with fediverse integration, Mastodon relies on its ActivityPub protocol, and Bluesky continues to innovate with features like vertical video feeds.
This diversity showcases the evolving social media landscape as platforms seek to differentiate themselves.
X’s Dominance Faces Challenges
X remains a primary platform for users and organizations to share updates. However, its unfulfilled ambition to become an “everything app” leaves openings for competitors like Bluesky to innovate.
Bluesky’s vertical video feed not only caters to modern content trends but also highlights its potential to attract creators looking for fresh experiences.
Implications for Users and Creators
The custom video feed reinforces Bluesky’s commitment to user customization and innovation. For creators, this update provides new avenues to engage with audiences through a dynamic and trending format.
The broader ecosystem of decentralized apps powered by the AT Protocol signals a shift toward greater transparency and user control in social media.
