Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side?
We’re not sure, but the sky is definitely bluer. It’s been almost two years since Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X), prompting many users to explore alternative platforms. Several options, such as Mastodon, Post, and Pebble (which has since shut down), emerged, but none have matched the rapid growth of Bluesky, aside from Meta’s Threads.
After nearly a year of being invite-only, Bluesky opened to the public in February 2024, gaining almost 800,000 users in a single day. As of October 2024, Bluesky boasts over 10 million users, fueled by X’s ban in Brazil and a controversial policy update that pushed X into the top five apps in the U.S. App Store. However, Bluesky still has a long way to go before catching up to Threads’ 175 million users.
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a decentralized social app conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and developed alongside Twitter. It features a Twitter-like interface but with a focus on algorithmic choice, a federated design, and community-specific moderation.
The platform is built on its own open-source AT Protocol, allowing external developers to see how it functions and what is being developed. Originally envisioned as a decentralized standard for social media while Dorsey was still Twitter’s CEO, Bluesky has since become a completely independent entity after Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.
By May 2024, Dorsey had stepped down from the Bluesky board, and the platform is now led by CEO Jay Graber as a public benefit corporation.
How Do You Use Bluesky?
Upon signing up, users can create a handle, which appears as @username.bsky.social, alongside a display name. You can also transform a personal domain into your username. For example, my handle is @amanda.omg.lol.
Bluesky operates similarly to Twitter, with users able to post messages up to 256 characters, reply, repost, like, or report content. The platform features a “Home” timeline where you can follow and interact with others. The original “What’s Hot” feed has since been replaced by a personalized “Discover” feed.
Bluesky also introduced a “Starter Pack” feature, helping new users find interesting content by curating a list of people and feeds to follow.
Who’s on Bluesky?
Bluesky gained traction after the launch of Instagram’s Threads, surpassing a million downloads by July 2023. Notable personalities like Neil Gaiman, Dril, and Chelsea Manning have joined the platform, as well as news outlets such as Bloomberg and The Washington Post. Since August 2024, heads of state have also been able to sign up on Bluesky.
Does Bluesky Work Like X?
In many ways, yes. Although Bluesky initially lacked direct messaging (DM) capabilities, it has since added one-on-one DMs. Group messaging is not yet available. Bluesky has also expressed interest in incorporating features similar to X’s Community Notes. Unlike X, Bluesky operates on a decentralized protocol (AT Protocol), allowing for more flexibility.
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In October 2024, Elon Musk announced changes to X’s block feature, enabling blocked users to view profiles and posts, though they cannot interact with the content. This raised concerns about user safety, prompting a spike in Bluesky sign-ups, as its block feature remains more traditional.
Is Bluesky Free?
Yes, Bluesky is free and open to the public.
How Does Bluesky Make Money?
Bluesky aims to sustain its platform without relying on advertisements. Instead, it offers paid services, such as custom domain handles. In July 2023, Bluesky announced additional seed funding and the launch of a paid service for users seeking unique domain handles. The platform emphasizes that it does not plan to monetize by selling user data for ads.
Is Bluesky Decentralized?
Yes, Bluesky is built on the decentralized AT Protocol. While currently in its beta phase, allowing users to join the bsky.social network, Bluesky plans to enable federation. This means that users will be able to migrate their profiles, followers, and data between different communities within the network, offering more flexibility and freedom.
As Bluesky stated in a blog post: “Wherever you go, your friends and relationships will be there too.”
Is Bluesky Secure?
In October 2023, Bluesky added email verification to enhance account security, improving its competitiveness with larger platforms like X. In December 2023, the app allowed users to opt out of public web exposure after backlash from its community.
Is Bluesky Customizable?
Yes, Bluesky offers customization through its “custom feeds” feature, allowing users to subscribe to various algorithms that display different types of posts. In March 2024, Bluesky introduced the “AT Protocol Grants” to support developers in building more customization tools, such as SkyFeed, which lets anyone create their own feeds.
Is Bluesky on iOS and Android?
Yes, Bluesky is available on both iOS and Android. It was initially launched for iOS in February 2024 and became available for Android users by April.
How Does Bluesky Tackle Misinformation?
In October 2023, Bluesky introduced a feature that flags potentially misleading links. If a link’s destination doesn’t match the accompanying text, users are warned that it may direct them to unintended content.
Has Bluesky Had Any Controversies?
Bluesky has faced moderation issues, particularly concerning the protection of marginalized users and the handling of racist content. A notable controversy erupted when users were able to create account handles containing racial slurs, leading to a user “posting strike.” In response, Bluesky has since implemented stricter guidelines.
What Moderation Features Does Bluesky Have?
Bluesky has added advanced automated tools to flag inappropriate content, similar to X’s moderation lists, allowing users to mute or block multiple accounts simultaneously. The app is also developing features to limit who can reply to posts and has introduced Ozone, a tool for creating independent moderation services.
What’s the Difference Between Bluesky and Mastodon?
Bluesky and Mastodon share a similar decentralized architecture. However, many users find Bluesky more intuitive, while Mastodon can be more daunting, especially when choosing which instance to join. Bluesky’s planned federation will make it even more similar to Mastodon, allowing users to pick and move between servers.
Who Owns Bluesky?
Although Jack Dorsey initially funded Bluesky, he no longer plays a day-to-day role in its development and is no longer on the board. Bluesky’s CEO is Jay Graber, a former software engineer who founded the platform.
