The popularity of Bluesky, the open-source social media platform with over 27 million users, continues to soar as it taps into the growing demand for decentralised platforms. Bluesky is now supporting Flashes, a new photo-sharing app developed independently but powered by the AT Protocol—an open and decentralised network technology. iPhone users eager to explore Flashes can apply for TestFlight access via Bluesky's official website to test the app before its official launch. However, there is no word yet on when an Android version will become available. [image or embed] — Flashes App 📱 (@flashesapp.bsky.social) 15 January 2025 at 23:04 Currently in beta with limited access, Flashes is expected to launch soon on the Apple App Store. Positioned to challenge the social media dominance of giants like Meta and X, Flashes leverages code from Skeet, a third-party Bluesky client. This could make it a strong contender to capture market share from Instagram and TikTok. Despite its similarities to Instagram, Flashes is not designed as a direct competitor. Sebastian Vogelsang, the developer behind Flashes, told TechCrunch, “Flashes isn’t built to be an Instagram alternative; rather, it will act as a platform to pull in new potential users to Bluesky.” Vogelsang is also working on Blue Screen, a video-only platform. Flashes is tailored for users keen on visual content such as photos and videos. At launch, it will support up to four photos per post and videos of up to one minute in length. All posts shared on Flashes will sync automatically with Bluesky and include features like direct messaging. As decentralised platforms like Bluesky and its offshoots gain momentum, they promise to redefine how users engage with social media by offering open and user-focused alternatives to existing monopolies.
