Flashes, a new app designed as an alternative to Instagram, is now available for iPhone users. The app, which is built on the Bluesky platform, officially launched on the App Store on February 24, 2025. Recent updates have improved its functionality, making it a compelling option for those seeking a different social media experience.
Flashes offers a photo and video-sharing platform reminiscent of Instagram’s earlier days, prior to its transformation under Meta. Users can expect a feed that emphasizes personal connections without the distractions of Stories, direct messages, or shopping features.
Key Features
Upon launching Flashes, users must either log in with an existing Bluesky account or create a new one specifically for the app. The interface organizes posts from followed accounts into an Instagram-like feed. Notably, any content shared on Flashes will also appear in the user’s Bluesky feed.
The app includes several tabs for easy navigation:
- Home Tab: Displays user feeds.
- Search Tab: Allows users to search for posts and view trending topics.
- Create Tab: Dedicated for new post creation.
- Notifications Tab: Shows Bluesky notifications.
- Profile Tab: Manages user profiles.
Flashes also provides basic photo filters and limited customization options, focusing primarily on visual content.
Considerations
While Flashes offers a streamlined experience, it has some drawbacks. Users with numerous Bluesky notifications will receive duplicate alerts in both apps. Additionally, deleting an account in one app will result in the removal of the account in the other.
Bluesky aims to create a more customizable social media experience that isn’t confined to a single platform. With its user base growing rapidly—reaching 30 million in January 2025—Flashes stands to benefit from this expansion.
For more information, visit the original article on Engadget.