Bluesky, the social networking startup rapidly approaching 10 million users thanks to the recent X (formerly Twitter) ban in Brazil, has announced an exciting update: users can now share videos up to 60 seconds long. This move aims to enhance the platform's competitive edge against rivals like Instagram Threads and Mastodon.
Bluesky, which positions itself as a decentralized alternative to X, offers a unique approach to social networking. Users can create their own servers, choose their algorithms, and control content moderation through independent services. The addition of native video support is set to significantly boost user engagement and content diversity on the platform.
The new video feature allows for autoplay by default, although users can disable this option in the settings. Each post can include one video, with the ability to attach subtitles. During its initial rollout, users can upload up to 25 videos or 10GB of video per day, with these limits subject to change based on user feedback and system performance.
Bluesky has implemented measures to combat video spam by requiring email verification for users. While adult content is permitted, videos containing such content must be labeled, allowing users to filter them out if preferred. The company uses Hive and Thorn for processing videos to ensure compliance with content warnings and prevent illegal material from being uploaded. Users can also report videos that violate community guidelines, potentially affecting their ability to post video content if violations are recurrent.
Although the feature's launch might have missed out on the viral moments from recent political debates, it positions Bluesky as a more engaging platform for discussing breaking news, politics, and pop culture. The addition of video support aligns with other recent updates, including an in-app video and music player and enhanced direct messaging features.
Bluesky will roll out the video upload feature gradually to manage server load and ensure a smooth user experience. As the platform continues to evolve, these updates underscore Bluesky's commitment to expanding its capabilities and enhancing user interaction.
