diff --git a/assets/reader.css b/assets/reader.css
index 8fcbd66..9f896a4 100644
--- a/assets/reader.css
+++ b/assets/reader.css
@@ -1595,6 +1595,81 @@
   cursor: pointer;
 }
 
+/* ==========================================================================
+   Skeleton Loaders
+   ========================================================================== */
+
+@keyframes ap-skeleton-shimmer {
+  0% { background-position: 200% 0; }
+  100% { background-position: -200% 0; }
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton {
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg,
+    var(--color-offset) 25%,
+    var(--color-background) 50%,
+    var(--color-offset) 75%);
+  background-size: 200% 100%;
+  animation: ap-skeleton-shimmer 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  border-radius: var(--border-radius-small);
+}
+
+.ap-card--skeleton {
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.ap-card--skeleton .ap-card__author {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--space-s);
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton--avatar {
+  width: 2.5rem;
+  height: 2.5rem;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton-lines {
+  flex: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton--name {
+  height: 0.85rem;
+  width: 40%;
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton--handle {
+  height: 0.7rem;
+  width: 25%;
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton-body {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  margin-top: var(--space-s);
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton--line {
+  height: 0.75rem;
+  width: 100%;
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton--short {
+  width: 60%;
+}
+
+.ap-skeleton-group {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--space-m);
+}
+
 /* ==========================================================================
    Responsive
    ========================================================================== */
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0b26c5f..3bb2fee 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@rmdes/indiekit-endpoint-activitypub",
-  "version": "2.5.4",
+  "version": "2.5.5",
   "description": "ActivityPub federation endpoint for Indiekit via Fedify. Adds full fediverse support: actor, inbox, outbox, followers, following, syndication, and Mastodon migration.",
   "keywords": [
     "indiekit",
diff --git a/views/activitypub-explore.njk b/views/activitypub-explore.njk
index 0c89b76..f00c489 100644
--- a/views/activitypub-explore.njk
+++ b/views/activitypub-explore.njk
@@ -256,10 +256,14 @@
               x-data="apInfiniteScroll()"
               x-init="init()">
               <div class="ap-load-more__sentinel" x-ref="sentinel"></div>
-              <button class="ap-load-more__btn" @click="loadMore()" :disabled="loading" x-show="!done">
-                <span x-show="!loading">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}</span>
-                <span x-show="loading">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}</span>
+              <button class="ap-load-more__btn" @click="loadMore()" :disabled="loading" x-show="!done && !loading">
+                {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}
               </button>
+              <div class="ap-skeleton-group" x-show="loading" x-cloak>
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              </div>
               <p class="ap-load-more__done" x-show="done" x-cloak>{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.noMore") }}</p>
             </div>
           {% endif %}
@@ -283,10 +287,12 @@
         <template x-if="tab.type === 'instance'">
           <div class="ap-explore-instance-panel">
 
-            {# Loading spinner — first load, no content yet #}
-            <div class="ap-explore-tab-loading"
+            {# Skeleton loaders — first load, no content yet #}
+            <div class="ap-skeleton-group"
               x-show="tabState[tab._id] && tabState[tab._id].loading && !tabState[tab._id].html">
-              <span class="ap-explore-tab-loading__text">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}</span>
+              {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
             </div>
 
             {# Error state with retry #}
@@ -304,7 +310,7 @@
               x-html="tabState[tab._id] ? tabState[tab._id].html : ''">
             </div>
 
-            {# Load more button + loading spinner for subsequent pages #}
+            {# Load more button + skeleton loaders for subsequent pages #}
             <div class="ap-load-more"
               x-show="tabState[tab._id] && tabState[tab._id].html && !tabState[tab._id].done">
               <button class="ap-load-more__btn"
@@ -313,10 +319,11 @@
                 :disabled="tabState[tab._id]?.loading">
                 {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}
               </button>
-              <span class="ap-explore-tab-loading__text"
+              <div class="ap-skeleton-group"
                 x-show="tabState[tab._id]?.loading">
-                {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}
-              </span>
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              </div>
             </div>
 
             {# Empty state — loaded successfully but no posts #}
@@ -347,10 +354,12 @@
               x-text="hashtagSourcesLine(tab)"
               x-cloak></p>
 
-            {# Loading spinner — first load, no content yet #}
-            <div class="ap-explore-tab-loading"
+            {# Skeleton loaders — first load, no content yet #}
+            <div class="ap-skeleton-group"
               x-show="tabState[tab._id] && tabState[tab._id].loading && !tabState[tab._id].html">
-              <span class="ap-explore-tab-loading__text">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}</span>
+              {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
             </div>
 
             {# Error state with retry #}
@@ -368,7 +377,7 @@
               x-html="tabState[tab._id] ? tabState[tab._id].html : ''">
             </div>
 
-            {# Load more button + loading spinner for subsequent pages #}
+            {# Load more button + skeleton loaders for subsequent pages #}
             <div class="ap-load-more"
               x-show="tabState[tab._id] && tabState[tab._id].html && !tabState[tab._id].done">
               <button class="ap-load-more__btn"
@@ -377,10 +386,11 @@
                 :disabled="tabState[tab._id]?.loading">
                 {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}
               </button>
-              <span class="ap-explore-tab-loading__text"
+              <div class="ap-skeleton-group"
                 x-show="tabState[tab._id]?.loading">
-                {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}
-              </span>
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+                {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+              </div>
             </div>
 
             {# Empty state — no instance tabs pinned yet #}
diff --git a/views/activitypub-reader.njk b/views/activitypub-reader.njk
index b84100a..365495b 100644
--- a/views/activitypub-reader.njk
+++ b/views/activitypub-reader.njk
@@ -150,10 +150,14 @@
         x-data="apInfiniteScroll()"
         x-init="init()">
         <div class="ap-load-more__sentinel" x-ref="sentinel"></div>
-        <button class="ap-load-more__btn" @click="loadMore()" :disabled="loading" x-show="!done">
-          <span x-show="!loading">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}</span>
-          <span x-show="loading">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}</span>
+        <button class="ap-load-more__btn" @click="loadMore()" :disabled="loading" x-show="!done && !loading">
+          {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}
         </button>
+        <div class="ap-skeleton-group" x-show="loading" x-cloak>
+          {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+          {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+          {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+        </div>
         <p class="ap-load-more__done" x-show="done" x-cloak>{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.noMore") }}</p>
       </div>
     {% endif %}
diff --git a/views/activitypub-tag-timeline.njk b/views/activitypub-tag-timeline.njk
index c72ab80..6a9988f 100644
--- a/views/activitypub-tag-timeline.njk
+++ b/views/activitypub-tag-timeline.njk
@@ -75,10 +75,14 @@
         x-data="apInfiniteScroll()"
         x-init="init()">
         <div class="ap-load-more__sentinel" x-ref="sentinel"></div>
-        <button class="ap-load-more__btn" @click="loadMore()" :disabled="loading" x-show="!done">
-          <span x-show="!loading">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}</span>
-          <span x-show="loading">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loading") }}</span>
+        <button class="ap-load-more__btn" @click="loadMore()" :disabled="loading" x-show="!done && !loading">
+          {{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.loadMore") }}
         </button>
+        <div class="ap-skeleton-group" x-show="loading" x-cloak>
+          {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+          {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+          {% include "partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk" %}
+        </div>
         <p class="ap-load-more__done" x-show="done">{{ __("activitypub.reader.pagination.noMore") }}</p>
       </div>
     {% endif %}
diff --git a/views/partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk b/views/partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3776985
--- /dev/null
+++ b/views/partials/ap-skeleton-card.njk
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{# Skeleton loading card — animated placeholder while content loads #}
+<div class="ap-card ap-card--skeleton" aria-hidden="true">
+  <header class="ap-card__author">
+    <div class="ap-skeleton ap-skeleton--avatar"></div>
+    <div class="ap-skeleton-lines">
+      <div class="ap-skeleton ap-skeleton--name"></div>
+      <div class="ap-skeleton ap-skeleton--handle"></div>
+    </div>
+  </header>
+  <div class="ap-skeleton-body">
+    <div class="ap-skeleton ap-skeleton--line"></div>
+    <div class="ap-skeleton ap-skeleton--line"></div>
+    <div class="ap-skeleton ap-skeleton--line ap-skeleton--short"></div>
+  </div>
+</div>