Bluesky rolls out video support, pushes to capitalize on X's Brazil ban

Bluesky, the decentralized alternative to X(Twitter), has just taken a major leap by introducing video support, allowing users to share videos up to 60 seconds long on both desktop and mobile.

This is a significant addition for a platform that, until now, focused primarily on text, images, and basic interactions like replies and reposts.

While its about 10 million users have long enjoyed Bluesky’s unique features, such as the ability to set up their own servers, choose algorithms, and tailor content moderation through independent services, the introduction of video pushes the platform into a new competitive space.

According to the company, videos on Bluesky will autoplay by default, but for those who prefer a quieter feed, the autoplay setting can easily be disabled. Subtitles and content labels are also available. However, there are a few limits—users are restricted to 25 video uploads per day or a total of 10GB of content.

Bluesky’s excitement about the feature is evident in its recent post on the platform

As with any new feature, Bluesky has implemented safeguards to ensure the platform remains a safe space for its community. It requires email verification for video posts and uses AI moderation tools, like Hive and Thorn, to screen for harmful content.

For those eager to try out the new video feature, simply update the app to version 1.91 or refresh the desktop site. Since Bluesky is rolling this out gradually, it might take a little time before it becomes available to all users.

The addition of video is just the latest in a series of updates that Bluesky has introduced in recent years. Last year, the platform added an in-app video and music player that supported third-party content like YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Twitch. More recently, it launched direct messaging (DMs), a personalized Discover feed, and new tools to hide replies, showing that Bluesky is catching up fast with X’s more mature features.

This native video support also comes at a time when Bluesky is seeing an influx of new users—particularly from Brazil, following X’s recent ban in the country. According to Bluesky, they’ve seen 500,000 new users in just two days after the ban.

With this update, coupled with Bluesky’s steady stream of improvements, the social platform continues to close the gap between itself and larger rivals like X, Instagram Threads and decentralized alternatives like Mastodon, offering an appealing alternative for users seeking a more decentralized and flexible social media experience.