A new video-sharing app called Loops is aiming to make waves in the social media landscape by bringing TikTok-style videos to the fediverse — a network of decentralized social media platforms.
Developed by Daniel Supernault, creator of the Instagram alternative Pixelfed, Loops seeks to offer users greater control and privacy, presenting a unique alternative for fans of short-form video.
How Loops works
Loops allow users to post looping videos up to 60 seconds long, with features like likes, comments and shares that resemble TikTok’s experience. However, it diverges in its decentralized structure, which allows users to keep control over their data. Loops will not sell user data to advertisers, nor will it use videos to train AI models, making it a privacy-conscious choice.
On the platform, users can categorize videos and engage audiences through custom comment moderation, giving creators control over audience interaction. According to Supernault, “Loops aims to create a respectful and safe environment where users’ voices matter.”
Community moderation through trust scores
Loops uses a “trust score” system for content moderation, where higher scores mean quicker video posting without manual approval. For newer users, videos will be held until reviewed by human moderators, which creates a layered safeguard against spam and harmful content. As Supernault noted, this moderation model helps build a quality community, ensuring content aligns with Loops’ standards while avoiding heavy algorithmic reliance.
Moderators play a critical role on Loops, with Supernault calling for volunteers on Mastodon to keep the platform user-friendly. This unique approach encourages active, positive engagement within the community.
Privacy-centered funding and features
Unlike TikTok, Loops doesn’t generate revenue from ads. Instead, it relies on grants, sponsorships and donations, in line with its commitment to protecting user privacy.
With growing interest, Loops may prove to be a worthy challenger in the world of short-form video sharing.