Skylight, a decentralized short-form video app built on the AT Protocol, is now live on iOS, with an Android beta available on Google Play. Backed by Mark Cuban and the Graham & Walker Venture Fund, the app offers familiar TikTok-style features — editing tools, likes, comments, shares, and user profiles — but with a key difference: interoperability. Posts created in Skylight can be viewed and engaged with across ATProto-based platforms, including Bluesky and Flashes.
More importantly, by leveraging the AT Protocol, Skylight is nearly impossible to ban or shut down — a significant advantage as regulators around the world scrutinize centralized platforms.
Founders Tori White and Reed Harmeyer were motivated by the potential TikTok ban in the US. White, a former influencer, had archived her content and recognized the need for a more resilient platform. She used her TikTok account (@buildwithtori) to document Skylight’s development, generating awareness and attracting a base of early adopters.
Skylight currently supports videos up to three minutes long and has a roadmap that includes duets, stitches, playlists, and customizable feeds.
This is not just another TikTok clone. Skylight is the first short-form video app to integrate directly with Bluesky’s 33.8 million-user network, offering creators the ability to publish content across a decentralized, interoperable ecosystem. As Meta, YouTube, and TikTok continue to expand their closed networks, Skylight represents a different architectural vision. Whether it gains traction remains to be seen, but the timing, protocol, and positioning reflect a growing demand for open, creator-first platforms.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.