Skylight’s TikTok alternative adds community curators to the mix

A new player in the short-form video arena, Skylight, is redefining how users engage with content. Rather than relying solely on algorithm-driven feeds typical of many social media platforms, Skylight is fostering a community of human curators. These curators are tasked with posting and resharing videos, allowing users to subscribe to personalized feeds curated by their favorite contributors. Launched on Monday with the app’s version 2.0, this feature is designed to attract users disillusioned with traditional social media’s algorithmic approaches and the rising tide of low-quality AI-generated content. Built on the Bluesky social network and its AT Protocol, Skylight first entered the scene in April as an open alternative to giants like TikTok. Since its debut, the app has garnered approximately 240,000 downloads and 100,000 video uploads, bolstered by early investments from notable figures, including Mark Cuban. The integration of Bluesky credentials gives Skylight a significant advantage in establishing a robust user base, tapping into Bluesky’s impressive network of over 38.4 million active users. This connection enables the seamless installation and operation of various open social applications, including Skylight, which is tailored for various media formats. The recent update emphasizes enhanced curation capabilities. Users can now easily create their own ‘curator’ feeds by posting, resharing videos, or utilizing third-party tools for customization. A future update will incorporate technology from Graze, a platform designed for tailored feed creation, allowing users to build their custom feeds directly within the Skylight app. Navigating through curated feeds is user-friendly; a simple swipe left from the main page reveals a selection of other feeds to explore. Following a curator is as easy as tapping the plus (+) icon, which also incorporates any curators already being followed into the new experience. Additionally, Skylight is expanding its horizons by partnering with Streamplace, a live-streaming platform that utilizes the same AT Protocol. This partnership enables Skylight to introduce live-streaming capabilities without the need for extensive internal development. The app now features a redesigned video player, complete with full-screen viewing and a split-screen mode, allowing users to explore profiles and search for content while watching videos. Founded by Tori White (CEO) and Reed Harmeyer (CTO), Skylight has gained significant traction on TikTok, where White’s account has amassed over 63,000 followers. This platform has proven effective for driving app downloads, with an additional 20,000 downloads reported in just the last week prior to the new version’s release. White attributes this surge to growing consumer interest in migrating from established social media to open-source communities. Available for free on both iOS and Android, Skylight has ambitious plans for future enhancements, including support for music, bookmarks, an account switcher, and more.