The TikTok alternative in the fediverse is making its debut with Loops, a short-form looping video app developed by the creator of Pixelfed, an Instagram alternative. According to a report by DailyTech, signups for Loops opened this week.
Users who have signed up for Loops can share videos up to 60 seconds long, as revealed by developer Daniel Supernault on Mastodon. Features such as using sounds, remixing others’ videos, pinned profile videos, and curated comment sections are on the way. Although videos can be categorized, hashtags and mentions are not yet supported.
Creating an account on Loops requires a confirmation email, which may take some time, as mentioned by Supernault. The iOS app will initially be available on TestFlight, Apple’s platform for testing unreleased apps, while an Android app will be “side-loadable,” as shared by Supernault.
To maintain a safe environment, Loops will rely on human moderators, as Supernault has called for on Mastodon. Videos will be moderated based on the trust score of each local user, with videos from low-scoring users undergoing moderation before being published, while those from trusted users will be live immediately.
While the fediverse integration and open-source status of Loops are still in progress, the platform’s FAQ states that users retain ownership of their content. Loops does not sell or provide videos to third-party advertisers or utilize them for AI training. The platform’s funding comes from grants, sponsorships, and donations, as outlined in the privacy policy.
For more information, you can refer to the privacy policy on the site.
