TikTok's Ownership Woes Fuel Rise of 'Freedom-First' Rival with 380K Users
As TikTok's U.S. ownership sparks panic, a decentralized rival is quietly gaining traction with a 'freedom-by-design' promise.
Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on the AT Protocol, saw 150% signup growth and tripled video plays in 24 hours following concerns about TikTok's ownership shift to American investors (ByteDance <20% stake). The app now boasts 380,000+ users and 1.4 million daily video plays.
Skylight co-founder Tori White said:
"We wanted creator and user power to be guaranteed by the technology. Not an empty promise, but an irrevocable right."
The platform's technical architecture integrates Bluesky video streaming while maintaining open-standards compatibility.
With 95,000 monthly active users in January 2024 and 150,000+ uploaded videos, Skylight's 50% returning user rate suggests growing trust in its decentralized model.
The free mobile app's adoption patterns—particularly 150% signup growth during ownership uncertainty—highlight demand for alternatives to algorithmic control.
