Bluesky and Other Social Apps Rush to Attract TikTok Users With New Features

As TikTok’s future in the United States remains uncertain, major social media platforms are introducing new features to attract the millions of users who may soon seek alternatives. Among them, Bluesky and Elon Musk-owned X have launched updates to capitalize on the moment, while Meta has announced a new video editing app.

Bluesky Enters the Short-Video Space

On Sunday, Bluesky unveiled a custom feed for vertical videos, marking its entry into the short-video market. The feature, now accessible through the Explore tab, includes a trending videos section. Users can swipe up to view additional videos, mimicking the familiar interface of apps like TikTok. Additionally, users can pin the feed to their home screens or add it to their list of feeds.

Here is what it looks like.

If you tap on any of the vertical videos, you can keep scrolling to go down the feed, much similar to X.

In a post announcing the update, Bluesky stated, “We had to get in on the video action, too… Bluesky is yours to customize.” The company also acknowledged developers working on TikTok alternatives using AT Protocol, the decentralized system that powers Bluesky. These developers are already working on early-stage apps such as Tik.Blue, Skylight.Social, Bluescreen, and Blueise, which are already in closed testing.

Bluesky’s rapid growth is evident as it surpassed 28 million users over the weekend, with many likely drawn by the uncertainty surrounding TikTok and other ByteDance apps, including CapCut, Lemon8, and Marvel Snap.

X and Meta Follow Suit

Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) has launched a dedicated feed for vertical videos in the U.S., further intensifying competition in the short video space. This feature allows users to explore trending video content, mirroring TikTok’s approach to video discovery.

On another front, Meta introduced a new video editing app called Edits. Positioned as a competitor to TikTok’s sibling app CapCut, Edits offers tools for high-quality video creation, including advanced editing features, inspiration tracking, and performance insights. The app is expected to roll out in March.