Bluesky Adds Dedicated Video Feed

With all the major social platforms looking to put more emphasis on video, in line with the TikTok-originated, full-screen vertical swiping approach, Bluesky is now also looking to jump on board, by adding its own dedicated video feed.

As you can see in this example, like X, IG, and every other social app, Bluesky is now also looking to capitalize on its existing video content, by adding a more TikTok-aligned, vertical-swiping feed display of just video uploads.

And even more, Bluesky’s video feed will be customized based on your own feed and community preferences.

As per Bluesky:

“With custom feeds, you can customize your Bluesky experience. The ability to swipe vertically between videos is specific to video custom feeds. Standard custom feeds and posts that contain video don’t automatically enter you into a video timeline.”

That could allow for more personalization, in line with Bluesky’s broader push to ensure that its users remain in control, and that decisions on what you see in the app are not restricted to any one group of corporate chiefs.

Which is also the push behind other decentralized video apps being built to replace TikTok, including Tik, which will integrate with Bluesky.

As you can see, Tik, which is still in development, aims to offer another TikTok alternative, built on the AT Protocol, like Bluesky.

To be clear, Tik is not being built by Bluesky itself, but is an independent platform being built on the same protocol, which means that Tik will be able to integrate with Bluesky, and enable users to re-share their videos from Bluesky to the app.

But the integration here is not dictated by Bluesky management, which is in line with the ethos of Bluesky, and decentralized social apps, that there is no central oversight, and creators and developers can integrate and build upon cooperating protocols as they wish.

It’s an interesting proposition, which could gain steam, especially if TikTok ends up being sold into government-influenced corporate ownership.

In China, the Chinese version of TikTok (Douyin) is directly influenced by Chinese government policies, with CCP operatives managing what’s allowed in the app, what trends, and what gains traction with specific sets of users.

Trump’s proposed government ownership of TikTok in the U.S. sounds eerily similar to this, with the government essentially maintaining a level of control over the app, and potentially, what is and is not allowed to be shared within it.

We don’t have a lot of details on the proposal as yet, but Trump has floated the idea that the U.S. will eventually gain a 50% stake in TikTok U.S., with the government dictating where that 50% goes.

That sounds a little concerning, and with Meta and X also moving into line with Trump’s policies, that could push more users to decentralized, non-corporate governed alternatives to avoid potential censorship.

Which could make Bluesky’s video update, as well as independent AT Protocol video projects, more relevant in the longer term.

Worth noting either way.