Bluesky: The New Social Media App Aiming to Dethrone Twitter

Bluesky: The Decentralized Social Network Taking Flight

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, a new player has emerged, capturing the attention of users seeking an alternative to the established giants. Bluesky, a decentralized social app born from the mind of former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has opened its doors to the public, and the response has been nothing short of remarkable.

The Exodus from X (formerly Twitter)

Since Elon Musk‘s acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, users have been exploring alternative platforms like Mastodon, Post, Pebble (which has already shut down), and Spill. However, few have matched the rapid growth and buzz surrounding Bluesky. Within a single day of opening to the public, Bluesky gained nearly 800,000 new users and is on track to surpass 4 million total signups.

The Rise of Bluesky

While Bluesky’s user base is still dwarfed by Meta‘s Threads, which boasts 130 million monthly active users, and Mastodon’s 1.8 million, the platform’s potential is undeniable. Whenever X users become disillusioned with Musk’s changes, they flock to Bluesky, seeking solace in its decentralized, open-source approach.

Unveiling the Mysteries of Bluesky

What Sets Bluesky Apart?

Bluesky is a decentralized social app built on the open-source AT Protocol, ensuring transparency and community involvement in its development. The platform offers a familiar, Twitter-like user interface, algorithmic choice, federated design, and community-specific moderation.

Twitter is funding a small independent team of up to five open source architects, engineers, and designers to develop an open and decentralized standard for social media. The goal is for Twitter to ultimately be a client of this standard. 🧵

– jack (@jack) December 11, 2019

Navigating the Bluesky Experience

Using Bluesky is a breeze. Users can create a handle in the format @username.bsky.social or even use their own domain name. The app’s interface is reminiscent of a streamlined Twitter, with options to create posts, reply, retweet, like, and report content. The “Discover” feed offers personalized recommendations and trending content, while the “Discover” tab suggests new accounts to follow and displays recent updates.

Image Credits: Natalie Christman

The Bluesky Community

As of July 2023, when Instagram’s Threads app launched, Bluesky had amassed an impressive roster of notable figures, including model Chrissy Teigen, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. With its growing user base and the support of influential individuals, Bluesky is poised to make waves in the social media landscape.

The Future of Bluesky

As Bluesky continues to soar, it remains to be seen whether it can maintain its momentum and establish itself as a formidable competitor to the likes of X and Threads. However, with its commitment to decentralization, transparency, and user empowerment, Bluesky is undoubtedly a platform to watch in the ever-evolving world of social media.

Bluesky: The Decentralized Social Network Taking Flight

A Rising Star in the Social Media Landscape

As Meta’s Threads took the internet by storm, another contender quietly made its mark. Bluesky, a decentralized social network, surpassed one million downloads across iOS and Android platforms. Prominent figures like Neil Gaiman, Dril, and Chelsea Manning have already made Bluesky their new online home. News organizations such as Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and Engadget have also joined the platform. As Bluesky opens its doors to the public, more high-profile users are expected to follow suit.

Similarities and Differences with Twitter

While Bluesky shares many similarities with Twitter, it currently lacks features like direct messaging and advanced tools such as list creation. Moreover, Bluesky utilizes decentralized protocols like ActivityPub and AT, setting it apart from Twitter’s centralized structure.

The Origins and Independence of Bluesky

Bluesky began as a project initiated by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019. However, since its inception in 2021, Bluesky has operated as an independent company.

Accessibility and Monetization

Bluesky is a free, open-to-the-public platform. Rather than relying on advertising, Bluesky aims to sustain its network through paid services. On July 5, the company announced additional seed round funding and introduced a paid service offering custom domains for users who desire a unique handle on the platform.

Decentralization and Interoperability

Built on the decentralized AT Protocol developed by Bluesky’s team, the platform envisions a federated future where countless individually operated communities can coexist within the open-source network. This means that if a developer outside of Bluesky creates a new social app using the AT Protocol, Bluesky users can seamlessly transition to the new app, bringing their followers, handle, and data with them.

You’ll always have the freedom to choose (and to exit) instead of being held to the whims of private companies or black box algorithms. And wherever you go, your friends and relationships will be there too.

Security Measures and Updates

In October 2023, Bluesky introduced email verification as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance account security and authentication. This update positions Bluesky as a more competitive alternative to larger networks like X, which boast more robust security controls. Following user backlash in December 2023, Bluesky allowed users to opt out of a change that would have exposed their posts to the public web.

Customization and Developer Grants

Bluesky offers customization options through “custom feeds,” which allow users to subscribe to multiple algorithms showcasing different types of posts. These custom feeds can be pinned and accessed through tabs at the top of the user’s timeline. In March 2024, Bluesky announced “AT Protocol Grants,” a program designed to support developers and foster growth and customization on the platform. One grant recipient, SkyFeed, enables users to create their own feeds using a graphical user interface.

Cross-Platform Availability

Bluesky is available on both iOS and Android devices. The app launched for Android users on April 20 and was initially released to iOS users in late February. Users can also access Bluesky on the web at bsky.app.

The Curious Case of “Skeets”

While there is no official name for posts on Bluesky, internet users have adopted the term “skeets,” a combination of “tweet” and “sky.” Despite objections from Bluesky CEO Jay Graber and others who find the slang term distasteful, users continue to widely refer to posts as “skeets.”

Combating Misinformation

In an October 2023 update, Bluesky introduced a feature that flags potentially misleading links. If the text of a shared link does not match its destination, the app will display a “possibly misleading” warning to alert users.

Image Credits: Bluesky on GitHub

Controversies and Moderation Challenges

Since its launch, Bluesky has faced moderation issues and accusations of failing to protect marginalized users and moderate racist content. In July 2023, frustrated users initiated a “posting strike,” refusing to engage with the platform until it implemented measures to flag slurs and offensive terms in usernames.

Recent Moderation Updates

In December 2023, the Bluesky Safety account announced a significant batch of moderation updates, including the rollout of “more advanced automated tooling” designed to address the platform’s moderation challenges.

Bluesky: The Social Media Platform Revolutionizing User Control

Moderation Features Empowering Users

Bluesky, the emerging social media app, is taking significant strides in enhancing user control over their online experience. The platform has introduced a reporting system that allows users to flag content that violates its Community Guidelines, which will then be reviewed by the app’s dedicated moderation team. This proactive approach ensures a safer and more respectful online environment for all users.

In addition to the reporting system, Bluesky has launched moderation features that mirror those found on X, such as user lists and moderation lists. The latter enables users to mute or block multiple users simultaneously, providing a streamlined way to manage unwanted interactions. Furthermore, the app is actively developing a feature that will allow users to control who can reply to their posts, giving them greater control over their conversations.

The Push for Private Accounts

With the announcement of Bluesky’s upcoming public web interface, some users are advocating for the ability to set their accounts to private. This feature would provide an added layer of privacy and security, allowing users to control who can view and interact with their content. As Bluesky continues to evolve, it is likely that the platform will address these user concerns and implement additional privacy options.

Ozone: Unprecedented Control Over Social Media Experience

In a groundbreaking move, Bluesky launched Ozone in March 2024, a tool that empowers users to create and run their own independent moderation services. This innovative feature gives users “unprecedented control” over their social media experience, allowing them to tailor their online interactions to their preferences and values. With Ozone, Bluesky is setting a new standard for user autonomy in the realm of social media.

Bluesky vs. Mastodon: Accessibility and User Experience

While Bluesky and Mastodon share similar architectures, many users have found Bluesky to be more intuitive and user-friendly. Mastodon’s instance-based structure can be overwhelming for new users, as choosing the right instance feels like a daunting task. Additionally, longtime Mastodon users are known for being protective of their established posting norms, which can make joining conversations intimidating for newcomers. In response to these challenges, Mastodon recently simplified its sign-up process, making mastodon.social the default server for new users.

However, with the launch of federation, Bluesky will function more similarly to Mastodon, allowing users to choose which servers to join and freely move their accounts between them. This development will provide users with even greater flexibility and control over their social media experience.

The Leadership Behind Bluesky

While Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, has provided financial support to Bluesky and holds a position on the company’s board, he is not involved in the day-to-day development of the platform. The CEO of Bluesky is Jay Graber, a former software engineer for the cryptocurrency Zcash and the founder of Happening, an event-planning site.

If you have more FAQs about Bluesky not covered here, leave us a comment below.