Meta’s Instagram Rival Emerges: Bluesky App Fueling Exodus

Bluesky’s Decentralized Social Media Platform Gains New Photo-Sharing App

While Bluesky has provided a safe haven for those seeking asylum from Elon Musk’s X, the company may soon offer a similar refuge for those fleeing Instagram due to similar reasons.

Introducing Flashes: A New Photo-Sharing App

New reports reveal that Bluesky is set to launch its own third-party photo and video sharing app called Flashes. Built on the same codebase as Bluesky, the app will enable users to post up to a minute of video and four photographs, similar to Bluesky.

Cross-Posting and Mirroring Comments

With a design familiar to Instagram users, content will be posted independently, but will also be cross-posted to Bluesky. Comments on posts will also be mirrored between the two clients, making it easy for users to engage with each other across both platforms.

A New Opportunity for Bluesky

For developer Sebastian Vogelsang, who created a Bluesky client for low-vision users on iPad called Skeets, Flashes represents an opportunity to bring more users to Bluesky. Vogelsang believes that having a single social graph with different apps picking what to display is an intriguing concept, and could bring a new level of innovation to the social media landscape.

Instagram’s Changes

Meanwhile, Instagram is looking to reintroduce politically motivated content, while on the Facebook mothership, fact-checkers are being dispensed with and speech surrounding sensitive topics on gender and immigration will be less subjected to moderation. This could lead to a mass exodus of users seeking a more inclusive and algorithm-free social media experience.

A New Contender Emerges

There’s yet to be a leading contender to emerge to take Instagram’s place as the dominant photo-centric social platform. However, with Flashes, Bluesky is well-positioned to fill this gap and provide a safe and welcoming space for users to share their photos and connect with others.

Key Features of Flashes

• Post up to a minute of video and four photographs
• Cross-post content to Bluesky
• Mirror comments between Flashes and Bluesky
• Familiar design for Instagram users
• Built on the same codebase as Bluesky