Tech Desk 
Jan 20, 2025
As TikTok’s future in the United States faced uncertainty following a 14-hour ban, leading social media platforms took advantage of the situation and started to roll out engaging features aimed at attracting users seeking alternatives.
Among these platforms, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) have introduced significant updates designed to capitalise on the situation.
Bluesky enters short-video space
Bluesky has launched a custom feed for vertical videos, marking its official entry into the short video market. The feature is currently available via the Explore tab, which now includes a trending video section.
This update allows users to view extra videos in a TikTok-like interface, enhancing user engagement. In addition, users can pin the custom video feed to their home screens and add it to their list of feeds for easy access.
When users click on a vertical video, they can scroll down the feed, which is similar to X’s (formerly Twitter’s) interface.
While announcing this major update, Bluesky stated: “We had to get in on the video action, too… Bluesky is yours to customise.”
Bluesky has witnessed rapid growth over the weekend, surpassing 28 million users. Many users have likely been drawn by TikTok alternatives, as well as other ByteDance apps such as CapCut, Lemon8, and Marvel Snap.
X follow suit
Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) has introduced a dedicated feed for vertical videos in the United States, further intensifying competition in the short video space similar to TikTok's interactive video discovery approach.
