X and Bluesky are taking advantage of TikTok’s current rocky situation regarding its U.S. ban to introduce their own vertical video features that aim to attract creators and users seeking alternatives.
Rivals copying successful TikTok features
On January 19, X (formerly Twitter), led by Elon Musk, launched an “immersive new home for videos” in the U.S., which offers a personalized feed of recommended videos across various categories.
“From there, you can explore a personalized feed of recommended videos reflecting the real-time nature of X across sports, entertainment, news and more,” X announced.
Bluesky, a decentralized social app conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, added a trending videos tab on the app. This users to swipe through and create video-only timelines based on specific hashtags.
“Like any other feed, you can choose to pin these or not. Bluesky is yours to customize,” Bluesky’s post reads.
The shift to decentralized platforms
The potential TikTok ban exemplifies the concept of “enshittification,” where platforms start by serving users well but ultimately prioritize profits at users’ expense. This cycle has previously been seen with platforms like MySpace, Facebook, and Instagram. If TikTok does shut down, new and innovative platforms might arise, continuing the dynamic evolution of social media.
With TikTok’s future uncertain, creators are exploring platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and emerging apps such as RedNote and Neptune. Meta is also working on Edits, its CapCut-style video editing app.
With the looming TikTok ban, the social media landscape is changing fast. Platforms like X and Bluesky are trying to fill any gap TikTok might leave. However, it looks like the TikTok ban will be rolled back, at least for now. So, we’ll see how well X’s and Bluesky’s efforts go.
Featured image courtesy: Bluesky