It Looks Like TikTok Will Have Some Competition In March
Bluesky has gained popularity in recent months after a section of X (FKA Twitter) users moved in. The platform was born as an open-source and decentralized alternative to the social network currently owned by Elon Musk. One of the most promising related projects under development is Reelo, a “TikTok for Bluesky.”
Reelo is designed as a “video-first” app for the Bluesky platform. However, it won’t be your traditional third-party client built on the BlueSky API. It has its own back end and code base, which was necessary in order to bypass the existing limitations for uploading videos.
Reelo wants to be the “TikTok for Bluesky”
The Reelo project is currently run by a single person: Brazilian developer João Davi S. He first tried to develop an app on the BlueSky API but scrapped the idea after noticing that the platform’s own limitations capped his vision. João wanted a video-first app that offers TikTok’s social media experience, while BlueSky was designed as a direct competitor to X.
While Reelo doesn’t rely on BlueSky’s API, it does implement the decentralized AT Protocol. This will allow for almost full and easy interoperability with the social media service. Plus, it will offer some unique features designed to enhance the video-sharing and watching experience. You’ll be able to upload videos up to three minutes long (BlueSky only allows one-minute videos). You’ll also have multiple options for filters and effects. The developer even has plans to integrate live streaming in the future.
The UI will be fairly familiar, including the classic buttons for liking, commenting, and sharing, among others. You’ll also have custom feeds with different themes to explore. Like Bluesky, Reelo will allow you to set up your own PDS (personal data server) if you don’t want to use the service’s.
Due to BlueSky’s own limitations, there will likely be some features that require a workaround. For example, since BlueSky only supports one-minute videos, videos on Reelo that exceed that length might be shared as a link instead of as a media file directly on the “parent service.”
Developer considering monetization options
Reelo’s developer is still looking into monetization options to implement. João reportedly considers using both ads and paid subscriptions for unlocking some more advanced features. He might also set up a revenue-sharing system with creators to incentivize app usage.
The app is expected to be available starting in March as a beta. However, being a one-man project, a delay could be entirely possible—and normal. Some investors have shown interest in the project, but nothing has been finalized yet. If something like this happens, the extra resources could speed up its arrival.
