Loops is a federated, open-source TikTok

Loops has entered open beta as a federated, open-source alternative to TikTok, designed to give power back to creators and communities. The platform operates on ActivityPub protocol, allowing interoperability with other fediverse applications like Mastodon and Pixelfed—meaning videos can reach audiences across compatible servers while users maintain control of their home instance.

Technically, Loops features vertical swipe short-video feeds with both chronological 'Following' and algorithmically-curated 'For You' feeds powered by engagement signals rather than ads. The platform includes creator-focused camera tools for vertical loops with lens switching and caption capabilities, plus rich comment threads with @mentions and reply likes. All engagement metrics—likes, shares, reposts—feed back into discovery algorithms that operate across the federated network.

The platform emerges as a direct response to growing concerns about corporate control, data mining, and algorithmic manipulation in mainstream social media. Loops operates with radical transparency as an open-source project, implementing community governance where users have voice in platform decisions. The architecture prevents platform lock-in while maintaining core short-video functionality through ethical design principles that explicitly avoid dark patterns and manipulative interfaces.

For creators and communities, Loops represents a sustainable alternative that prioritizes privacy and user experience over advertising revenue. The federated model allows communities to establish their own servers with customized rules while maintaining network connectivity. This approach could reshape how short-form video platforms operate, moving away from centralized control toward distributed ownership models that better serve niche communities and independent creators.