Flashes: A New Instagram Alternative Built on Bluesky’s AT Protocol

In a significant development, Flashes, a photo-sharing app built on Bluesky’s AT Protocol, has launched publicly on the App Store, garnering nearly 30,000 downloads within the first 24 hours. This innovative app offers a classic Instagram-like experience, with a twist: it’s more customizable and has access to a built-in audience of over 32 million users on Bluesky.

A Customizable Experience

Flashes allows users to upload up to four photos and videos of up to a minute in length, providing a flexible and user-friendly experience. Unlike Instagram, Flashes doesn’t rely on a proprietary algorithm, instead offering over 50,000 custom feeds on Bluesky that enable users to curate content to their liking.

Features for Photographers

Flashes has several features that cater specifically to photographers. The “Portfolio Mode” allows users to curate their profile by selecting which media to display to visitors, ensuring that their best work is showcased. Additionally, posts created in Flashes can be edited using built-in photo filters, similar to Instagram.

Community-Driven Features

Flashes is also introducing curated feeds from artists, starting with images from the Blacksky community. This feature highlights the app’s commitment to community-driven content and its willingness to collaborate with external partners.

Future Plans and Funding

Developer Sebastian Vogelsang has expressed openness to funding opportunities, having already engaged in conversations with investors. With over 40,500 downloads as of Thursday, Flashes is poised to become a significant player in the social media landscape.

Conclusion

Flashes offers a unique blend of customization, community-driven features, and photographer-friendly tools, making it an attractive alternative to Instagram. As the app continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the social media landscape.