
Introducing Flashes: The Exciting Instagram Alternative Powered by Bluesky!
2025-07-03
Author: Sophie
What is Flashes?
Flashes has burst onto the scene this year as a revolutionary Instagram alternative, leveraging the Bluesky social network. Now available on the App Store, this app transforms how users engage with visual content, moving away from a traditional timeline feed and embracing a photo-centric design reminiscent of Instagram.
Post to Impress!
Crafted by Berlin developer Sebastian Vogelsang, Flashes operates on the AT Protocol, the same framework that powers Bluesky. This allows users to share images and videos with specifications much like Bluesky’s original format. Initially, you could post up to four images and videos lengthwise up to a minute; however, following the recent Bluesky update on March 10, you can now showcase video clips of up to three minutes!
Flashes vs. Instagram: The Similarities and Differences
Much like Instagram, Flashes offers a scrollable feed filled with eye-catching photos and videos, user profiles, and nifty photo filters to enhance your posts. The major advantage? You don’t have to start building your social network from the ground up. Joining Flashes means you automatically connect to the broader Bluesky community, boasting over 37 million users. Even if not everyone on Bluesky uses Flashes, their visual content is available for you to enjoy!
When you post via Flashes, your content also appears on Bluesky, offering seamless integration between the two platforms. Users can explore their Bluesky feeds or choose from over 50,000 custom feeds centered around various interests, from art to adorable cat pics.
Engage Like Never Before!
Flashes doesn’t just let you browse—you can interact by liking, reposting, or replying to content, with all interactions syncing back to Bluesky. Photographers especially will love Flashes' unique 'Portfolio' feature, allowing them to curate their showcased images. Just head to the 'Advanced' tab in your profile to toggle this awesome feature!
Getting Started with Flashes!
Eager to dive into the world of Flashes? You’ll first need a Bluesky account to get started. Existing users can log in directly, or new users can sign up right from the Flashes app! The default setup will connect you to bluesky.social, but tech-savvy users can opt for custom server options.
Creating an account is straightforward—just provide your email, password, date of birth, and agree to the community guidelines. Once you're in, the visual feast of images and videos on Bluesky is at your fingertips!
Future Features on the Horizon!
Vogelsang’s vision for Flashes is expansive, aiming to attract users seeking alternatives to Meta’s Instagram. The app is not alone in this pursuit—competitors like Pinksky and Pixelfed offer similar experiences on different social networks.
Looking down the road, Flashes plans to introduce push notifications, support for multiple accounts, bookmarks, and enhanced editing tools. There's even talk of a premium subscription tier to fund future Android and web development, which could also grant access to other exciting projects like Vogelsang's third-party Bluesky app, Skeets.
Additional planned enhancements include an iPad-friendly layout, longer video support, timed posts like Stories, and effortless image migration from other platforms. Ultimately, Vogelsang dreams of evolving Flashes into its own AT Protocol-powered ecosystem while maintaining compatibility with Bluesky.
Download Flashes Today!
Ready to redefine your social media experience? Flashes is a free download available on the App Store, requiring iOS 17 or higher. Dive into a new way of sharing and connecting!