In a bold move following the TikTok ban on September 17, social platform Bluesky launched a custom video feed. Hot on its heels, Flipboard has unveiled a new app called Surf, which brings its video feed while allowing you to explore the open social web and decentralised services like Mastodon and Bluesky. Surf is currently in beta, with a sign-up list available for those eager to test the platform.
A unique approach to video content
Initially, Surf’s video feed combined video posts from Bluesky’s “trending video” feed and those tagged with #SkyTok. However, Flipboard plans to personalise this feed for each user, creating a distinct experience compared to Bluesky’s offering.
Welcome to SkyTok! – Videos tagged with #SkyTok (no NSFW please) – Trending videos on Bluesky – Coming soon: videos from your network; vote up with ❤️ Made with surf.social If you’d like to make a video feed like this for your community we’ll help. Use refer code “SkyTok” at waitlist.surf.social
— Mike McCue (@mmccue.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
[image or embed]
Flipboard CEO Mike McCue explained the broader potential of custom feeds. “This is just the latest example of how custom feeds on the social web can be used for all sorts of use cases — video sharing, photo sharing, discussion groups, messaging, etc. — that have been the exclusive domain of the large walled gardens,” he told TechCrunch.
Custom feeds give third-party developers the power to build unique features for social networking platforms. Surf’s video feed, for example, will soon pull content directly from a user’s Bluesky Following timeline, filtered to show only video posts. Once this integration is complete, you’ll see videos shared by the people you follow, offering a personalised experience.
TikTok-inspired design with added flexibility
Inspired by TikTok’s popular design, Surf has adopted a similar user interface for its video feed. Bluesky’s own custom video feed, which features this layout, was rolled out on September 17. If you’re not seeing the TikTok-style interface on Bluesky, you might need to restart the app a few times.
While Surf remains in private beta, its video feed is accessible directly on Bluesky as a native custom feed option. This means that even if you don’t have access to Surf, you can still experience its unique offerings.
Expanding possibilities with custom feeds
Surf’s potential goes beyond just one type of feed. For example, McCue has also developed a “BookTok”-style feed that focuses on videos about books. This custom feed, which uses hashtags like #BookTok and #BookSky, isn’t limited to Bluesky content.
Using the BookTok feed on Surf, you’ll discover videos from various platforms, including YouTube, Threads, and Mastodon. This is thanks to Surf’s ability to aggregate content from multiple social networks powered by protocols like ActivityPub (used by Mastodon), the AT Protocol (used by Bluesky), and RSS.
As Surf develops, it promises to become a powerful tool for exploring decentralised social networks and custom content feeds. Its innovative approach could offer an exciting alternative to traditional social media platforms.
