Skylight: A New TikTok Alternative with Community Focus

A New Approach to Short-Form Video with Skylight

Skylight, a recently launched startup, is differentiating itself in the short-form video landscape. Rather than relying on algorithms to dictate content discovery, Skylight is fostering a community centered around human curation.

This innovative approach, released on Monday with the app’s version 2.0, is designed to attract users who are increasingly concerned about algorithmic control and the proliferation of low-quality, AI-generated content on traditional social media platforms.

Built on Open Standards

Skylight is constructed upon Bluesky’s social network and the AT Protocol. The app initially debuted in April as an open-source alternative to popular video applications like TikTok.

To date, Skylight has achieved approximately 240,000 downloads and boasts a library of 100,000 uploaded videos. The project has also secured initial investment from prominent figures, including Mark Cuban.

Leveraging Bluesky credentials for user authentication provides Skylight with a significant advantage in expanding its user base. Currently, Bluesky supports over 38.4 million users.

Enhanced Curation Features

The 2.0 release places a strong emphasis on improved curation capabilities. Users can now establish their own “curator” feeds by posting, reposting videos, or utilizing external tools to construct personalized content streams.

Integration with Graze, a custom feed-building platform, is planned. This will enable Skylight users to create tailored feeds directly within the application.

Curated feeds are accessible by swiping left from the main page. Users can subscribe to curators by tapping the plus (+) button, adding them to their personalized feed selection.

Expanding Functionality Through Integrations

The update also introduces integrations with other services designed for the open social web. Skylight is collaborating with Streamplace, a livestreaming platform also built on the AT Protocol.

This partnership allows Skylight to offer livestreaming functionality without requiring in-house development. Furthermore, the app now features a redesigned video player with full-screen and split-screen viewing options.

The Team Behind Skylight

Skylight is the product of a small team, comprised of co-founders Tori White (CEO) and Reed Harmeyer (CTO). The app’s visibility is significantly boosted through White’s TikTok account.

White’s TikTok, which provides updates on the app’s development, has garnered over 63,000 followers. This social media presence has demonstrably driven app installs.

In the past week alone, Skylight experienced a surge of 20,000 downloads, attributed to growing consumer interest in migrating from established social platforms to open-source communities.

Availability and Future Plans

Skylight is available for free download on both iOS and Android. The development roadmap includes planned support for features such as music integration, bookmarks, and an account switcher.