TikTok is preparing to go dark, while Mark Zuckerberg has loosened content restrictions on Meta apps and Elon Musk continues to tweak X’s algorithm. Amidst the chaos, a promising alternative has emerged in Bluesky, which boasts an open protocol allowing developers to build their own apps.
A notable example is Flashes, an Instagram-like app built by developer Sebastian Vogelsang on top of Bluesky’s AT Protocol. The app allows users to share photo slideshows and videos, with posts appearing on both the main Bluesky client and Flashes. However, it will only display photos and videos, excluding text-based posts.
Vogelsang emphasizes that Flashes is not a complete replica of Instagram and will lack many features. Instead, it aims to provide a simpler social media experience, which some users have been missing since the rise of AI-generated content and algorithm-driven recommendations.
Bluesky has gained significant momentum from Elon Musk’s acquisition of X and Twitter, with approximately 27 million active users. However, its growth has slowed in recent months. The company plans to launch paid subscriptions to reduce its reliance on advertising and data collection.
Flashes is expected to launch soon, with Vogelsang encouraging interested users to follow the Flashes account on Bluesky for updates. If successful, Bluesky’s open protocol could provide a more sustainable social media landscape, one that prioritizes user experience over algorithm-driven content.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/bluesky-is-getting-its-own-instagram-alternative-called-flashes-2000550787