Flashes is a new photo-sharing app that works like Instagram but is built on top of the Bluesky social network. Now available on the App Store, Flashes lets users post and browse images and videos from Bluesky in a more visual, user-friendly way.
What Is Flashes?
Flashes was created by Berlin-based developer Sebastian Vogelsang. It uses the same AT Protocol (ATProto) that powers Bluesky. This means all posts on Flashes also appear on Bluesky and follow its content rules.
Users can upload up to four images per post and videos up to three minutes long. These updates match the latest improvements made in Bluesky version 1.99.
How Is Flashes Like Instagram?
Flashes offers:
- A photo and video feed
- User profiles with filters
- Tools to like, repost, and reply to content
- A “Portfolio” mode to showcase your best work
- Visual browsing of over 50,000 custom Bluesky feeds
The key difference? Flashes automatically connects users to Bluesky’s 37+ million users, displaying visual content from across the entire Bluesky network.
How to Start Using Flashes
You need a Bluesky account to use Flashes. You can sign in with your current account or create a new one directly in the app. Once logged in, you can:
- Browse media posts
- Post your own images or videos
- Interact with other users’ content
- Customize your profile display
The app supports iOS 17 and is free to download.
What’s Coming Next?
Future updates for Flashes may include:
- Push notifications
- Multiple account support
- Bookmarks and new editing tools
- Premium features via subscription
- Android and web versions
- Instagram-style Stories and albums
- Better iPad support
Flashes joins other image-sharing apps like Pinksky and Pixelfed in offering alternatives to Instagram, each on different decentralized networks.
