Bluesky will compete Instagram with Flashes: A new photo sharing app

An independent developer is launching a photo-sharing app called Flashes for Bluesky, utilizing the AT Protocol that powers the platform. The app aims to offer an alternative to mainstream social media ecosystems dominated by Meta.

Flashes is developed by Berlin-based Sebastian Vogelsang, who previously created the Bluesky client, Skeets. The new app is designed to cater to users interested in visual content such as photos and videos. Currently, Bluesky has approximately 27.5 million users, and the advent of Flashes is expected to appeal to those who might not identify with traditional text-based platforms like Twitter.

The app will allow users to post up to four images and one minute of video, mirroring current limitations set by Bluesky. Notably, posts shared on Flashes will also appear on Bluesky, and interactions within the app will sync back to Bluesky’s platform. Flashes will also support direct messages in alignment with Bluesky’s existing features.

Vogelsang emphasized that Flashes is not intended to replicate Instagram but to provide a distinct experience focused on visual content. The app builds on the existing infrastructure of Bluesky by filtering its timeline to highlight posts featuring images and videos, thereby creating an Instagram-like experience without adopting all of Instagram’s features.

Development of Flashes was expedited through the reuse of Skeets’ existing code, reducing the build time significantly. The success of Skeets, which has seen about 30,500 downloads, may facilitate marketing efforts for Flashes as it aims to reach users who prefer visual content over textual discussions.

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Vogelsang is also planning to integrate subscription-based features from both apps, ensuring users do not incur costs twice for premium features like bookmarks, drafts, and notifications. Both Flashes and Skeets will remain available for free without subscriptions initially.

In addition to Flashes, there are future plans for a video-only app named Blue Screen. Vogelsang projects that Flashes will be publicly available within weeks, with a TestFlight beta version expected to precede the full launch. Users interested in updates are encouraged to follow Flashes’ account on Bluesky.

Featured image credit: Bluesky