TikTok meets Bluesky on a new app called Loops

The network of social media services known as the “fediverse” is getting a new short-form video app. Loops is looking to bring TikTok-style video to the federated ecosystem that already includes platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, and Meta’s Threads.

Loops comes from Daniel Supernault, a developer who knows a thing or two about federated versions of popular apps. His best-known creation is Pixelfed, which operates as a decentralized and open-source take on photo sharing platforms like Instagram.

With his latest project, Supernault has his eyes trained on TikTok and its vast library of short-form content. Approved Loops users will be able to post videos up to a minute in length, which will be categorized and made available to the platform’s viewers.

Many of the data points on Loops — likes, comments, etc. — give the platform a similar look and feel to TikTok. What sets it apart is its federated structure and all the perks that come with that setup. Supernault’s new hub is a decentralized, secure location that will not deliver user data to third parties. Its planned connection to the ActivityPub protocol allows its videos and accounts to spread across platforms like Mastodon and Threads, so long as those hubs support Loops.

Instead of profiting from user data, the Loops team will fund its platform through a combination of grants, sponsorships, and direct donations from users. Loops has not received any venture capital funding thus far.

On Loops, moderation will be carried out by humans via a points system that rubber-stamps “trusted users” while holding back videos from low scorers until those uploads can be individually evaluated. Loops creators will also be able to control the response to their content by curating the comment sections

We live in an era in which TikTok is fighting to reassure lawmakers about its security and facing hundreds of lawsuits because of its addictive algorithm. In that world, the idea of a decentralized TikTok with no recommendation algorithm sounds great, but Loops has a lot of work to do before it does to TikTok what Bluesky did to X.

It must complete its ActivityPub integration, launch its previewed features, and show potential users that it can provide the experience they want. Years ago, YouTube pushed out competing video players (remember Revver and Blip?) by marrying its own player to unbeatable scale. If another decentralized service publishes a passable imitation of the TikTok player — and Threads is a likely candidate here — what will draw users to Loops specifically? Or, in other words, if Loops videos can be shared across a federated network, is there room in that network for more than one video publishing platform?

We’ll begin to answer these questions as Loops’ earliest users share their impressions of the platform. According to Supernault, a side-loadable APK will power an Android version of Loops, while the iOS version will be made available through the developer-facing program TestFlight. Sign-ups are currently open on Loops website, so add your name if you want to see what this decentralized take on TikTok is all about.