# Loops

> short video-focused distributed social network service

**Wikidata**: [Q130785382](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130785382)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/loops

## Summary
Loops is a short video-focused distributed social network service that operates as free software. Launched in 2024, it utilizes the ActivityPub protocol to integrate with the wider Fediverse, offering a decentralized alternative to centralized video platforms. The service includes a dedicated mobile application and emphasizes user freedom through open-source distribution.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** Inception occurred in 2024.
- **Primary Function:** Service is focused on the creation and sharing of video clips.
- **Network Type:** Classified as a distributed social network and social networking service.
- **Protocol:** Utilizes the ActivityPub protocol for federation.
- **Ecosystem:** Is a part of the Fediverse (open social media network).
- **Software License:** Distributed as free software, allowing users to run, study, change, and distribute it.
- **Components:** Consists of the main "Loops" platform and the "Loops Mobile App."
- **Official Website:** https://joinloops.org/
- **Community:** Maintains an official community presence on Lemmy at `loops@lemmy.world`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Loops used for?
A: Loops is used for sharing and viewing short video clips within a social networking context. It functions similarly to other short-video platforms but operates on a decentralized infrastructure.

### Q: Is Loops part of the Fediverse?
A: Yes, Loops is part of the Fediverse. It uses the ActivityPub protocol, allowing it to interact with other decentralized social networks that support the same standard.

### Q: Is Loops free to use and modify?
A: Yes, Loops is classified as free software. This means it is distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

### Q: Does Loops have a mobile app?
A: Yes, the service includes a specific component identified as the "Loops Mobile App."

## Why It Matters
Loops represents a significant evolution in the landscape of social media by bridging the gap between the popular "short video" format—dominated by centralized, proprietary platforms—and the ethical framework of the Fediverse. While traditional short-video apps rely on opaque algorithms and centralized data control, Loops leverages the ActivityPub protocol to decentralize the social graph. This architecture empowers users by removing the single point of control typical of mainstream social networking services.

By being distributed across distinct providers and adhering to free software principles, Loops addresses growing concerns regarding data sovereignty and platform monopolization. It allows distinct providers to host instances while enabling users to interact seamlessly across the network. This approach solves the problem of vendor lock-in, giving users the freedom to migrate, modify, and audit the software that governs their social interactions. As a 2024 entrant, it serves as a modern implementation of federated media, proving that high-bandwidth content like video clips can be successfully integrated into the open social web.

## Notable For
- Being a **short video-focused** platform within the Fediverse, a niche historically dominated by text and image-based instances.
- Operating as **free software**, distinguishing it from proprietary competitors like TikTok or Instagram Reels.
- Utilizing **ActivityPub**, making it interoperable with other decentralized services like Mastodon, PeerTube, and Lemmy.
- Providing a **distributed architecture** that removes central authority oversight.
- Launching with a dedicated **mobile app** alongside the web platform to ensure accessibility.

## Body

### Platform Architecture and Protocol
Loops is built as a distributed social network, meaning it is not hosted on a single set of servers controlled by one entity. Instead, it is decentralized across distinct providers. This is achieved through the use of the **ActivityPub protocol**, the standard technical layer that enables different social networking services to communicate with one another.

Because it uses ActivityPub, Loops is a distinct part of the **Fediverse**. This allows users on Loops to potentially follow or interact with users on other federated platforms that support the same protocol, creating a unified but distributed social graph.

### Software and Licensing
The platform is strictly classified as **free software**. This classification ensures that the software is distributed under terms that grant users the four essential freedoms: the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software (and modified versions). This open approach contrasts with the closed-source nature of mainstream social networking services.

### History and Launch
The project's inception is recorded as **2024**. Alongside its integration into the Fediverse, the platform has established key digital properties, including an official website at `joinloops.org` and an official blog at `blog.joinloops.org`. The project also maintains a presence on the federated link-aggregation platform Lemmy, specifically identified by the community ID `loops@lemmy.world`.

### Content and Accessibility
The core utility of Loops is the **video clip**. The platform is optimized for the creation, sharing, and consumption of short-form video content. To facilitate this, the ecosystem includes two main components: the core Loops service and the **Loops Mobile App**, ensuring users can engage with video content via mobile devices.