Exploring Bluesky: The Social Media Platform Reinvented
Bluesky aims to become a multifaceted social media platform. It serves as an alternative to existing sites like X and Threads. While it starts with standard text posts, there are exciting developments on the horizon: in the near future, users will be able to utilize an app named Flashes to convert Bluesky into a platform reminiscent of Instagram. In the meantime, users can experiment with an app that transforms Bluesky into a TikTok-like experience, providing a unique approach to social media interaction.
Introducing Bluescreen for Bluesky
Bluescreen serves as a dedicated client for Bluesky, focused on a singular task: it pulls videos from your Bluesky feed and presents them through a vertically scrolling interface similar to TikTok. This app exclusively highlights video content, omitting text-based interactions and still images, effectively creating a “video-only” experience.
This idea resonates with the purpose of the Flashes app, which segregates images from your Bluesky feed to replicate an Instagram-like environment. It’s noteworthy that both apps employ this strategy to achieve their respective goals, a design choice that stems from the same developer, Sebastian Vogelsang.
Vogelsang initially unveiled Flashes prior to Bluescreen, yet opted to launch the video-centric app first. While awaiting the Instagram counterpart for Bluesky, users can dive into the TikTok-inspired Bluescreen experience.
Utilizing Bluescreen for Video Viewing

Bluescreen effectively fulfills its intended function, although it does have some areas for improvement. After linking your Bluesky account, users are greeted with videos, akin to the experience of launching TikTok or engaging with Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. The app facilitates interaction through various options: tapping the heart icon allows you to like a video without leaving the streaming interface. Conversely, selecting the comment icon redirects you away from the video feed to a separate window for comments. Users can also repost videos with a button featuring two arrows and access additional functionalities, such as Translate, Share, or Report, through a three-dot icon. A general mute option is also available on the screen.
By tapping the video, the standard iOS video control panel appears, allowing you to play, pause, rewind, fast forward, AirPlay, or adjust the volume settings—all while avoiding interference with the device’s main volume. However, a notable downside is that videos are muted by default, even when the mute button indicates that sound should be enabled. Users must press it twice: first to mute, then to unmute, before the sound plays. This recurring issue necessitates that users take this step for each video while streaming through speakers, though connecting Bluetooth headphones resolves the sound problem. It is anticipated that this quirk will be addressed in future updates.
At the top of the interface, there is an option to select which feed to extract videos from. The App Store indicates that thousands of feeds are available, but for those who find that overwhelming, it’s possible to limit the source to your primary feeds, such as Following, Discover, or pinned tabs. For instance, selecting the Astronomy feed makes it simple to view topic-specific videos. Users can also search for content or explore trending topics using the search icon, mirroring functionalities familiar from other social media platforms.
In essence, if effectively curated, Bluesky feeds could offer a dynamic stream of various short-form videos across the platform. While the user interface is still developing and lacks the refinement of established video-sharing apps, its potential is clear.
Uploading Personal Videos with Bluescreen
Bluescreen is not merely a passive viewer; it allows for video uploads to Bluesky as well. By tapping the (+) button at the bottom of the screen, users can select videos from their device to post via Bluescreen. The app provides essential editing tools, along with the option to add captions, set reply permissions, and choose the post’s language before finalizing the upload. It’s important to note: posts are made on Bluesky, which means you are still engaging with your existing account, despite the appearance of using a separate platform.
