Fediverse Launches Loops: A New TikTok Alternative
- Loops, a new app for sharing short looping videos, has begun accepting signups and aims to be a TikTok competitor for the fediverse, a decentralized social media ecosystem.
- The app, developed by Daniel Supernault, will eventually integrate with ActivityPub, the protocol facilitating interoperability among various federated platforms.
- By ensuring user ownership of content and seeking funding through donations rather than investors, Loops supports the ethos of the open social web.
In October 2024, the fediverse introduced Loops, an innovative app tailored for sharing short, looping videos with aspirations to compete against mainstream platforms like TikTok. The application, crafted by developer Daniel Supernault, is currently accepting signups and is focused on building a community within the decentralized social media space, known as the fediverse. Though it is not yet open-source and fully integrated with ActivityPub, plans for these enhancements are underway, promising a more interconnected experience with other platforms such as Mastodon and Pixelfed. Loops distinguishes itself by emphasizing user privacy and content ownership, assuring users that their data will not be sold to advertisers or used for AI training. Users maintain full rights to their uploads, allowing for a sense of trust and security within the platform. This commitment to user agency aligns with the principles of the federated web, which seeks to create a more user-controlled and less commercially-driven social environment. Funding for Loops will derive from user donations via platforms like Patreon, Open Collective, and Liberapay, rather than traditional investor backing. This approach ensures that the app can remain independent and focused on community development and sustainability. A forthcoming grant is also expected to support its operation for a year, highlighting an alternative route for tech project financing. As it continues to evolve, Loops will facilitate interaction between users from different federated platforms, allowing users to engage with content across the fediverse. This strategic integration sets the stage for a flourishing open social web as Loops advances toward its full potential.