Echoing Mastodon’s approach of providing an open-source, decentralized alternative, the fediverse is now introducing its own rival to TikTok. Recently, a new app called Loops has started accepting signups for its platform geared towards sharing short, looping videos. While Loops is still in its early stages and not yet open sourced or fully integrated with ActivityPub, the protocol powering Mastodon, Pixelfed, PeerTube, and other federated apps, these developments are currently in progress.
Once these integrations are complete, Loops will add another dimension of social interaction to the rapidly expanding fediverse, which boasts over 11.6 million users with more than 1 million active users each month. While Mastodon accounts for the majority of this activity, the adoption of ActivityPub by apps like Flipboard and Threads suggests a growing interest in the protocol. Threads, although not fully integrated yet, already boasts over 200 million monthly users.
The brainchild of Daniel Supernault, the creator of Pixelfed, Loops will operate within the Pixelfed project. According to a FAQ on its website, Loops is committed to remaining open source and decentralized, ensuring user data privacy by not selling or providing data to third-party advertisers or using content for AI training purposes. User content belongs solely to the user, with Loops only granted permission to use it.
To support its development, Loops will rely on user donations through platforms like Patreon, Open Collective, and Liberapay as well as a forthcoming grant. Targeting users aged 13 and above, Loops will enable following, liking, commenting, and sharing of videos, fostering a sense of community within the federated web. Users from platforms like Mastodon and Pixelfed will be able to follow Loops accounts and interact with videos through their respective feeds, enhancing cross-platform engagement.
Incorporating mechanisms such as trust scores to moderate content and hide problematic comments, Loops will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all users. Future features like cross-platform profile sharing and mutual follows are still in development.
While signups are now open, the app’s full functionality will be gradually rolled out to testers. An APK will be available for Android users, with an iOS app arriving on TestFlight once approved. A web interface is planned for the future.
Community feedback on terms, privacy policies, and moderation is actively sought by the founder. Suggestions and inquiries can be directed to the founder for consideration.
