What is Bluesky? The Social Platform Killing X
Key Takeaways
- Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform built on the AT Protocol, focusing on user control, data portability, and community-driven moderation.
- Created by Jack Dorsey and led by Jay Graber, Bluesky launched independently in 2021 and now has over 20 million active users.
- Key features include algorithmic choice, federated design, and enhanced blocking tools, allowing users to tailor their experiences and maintain control over their data.
- Unlike X, Bluesky prioritizes transparency and user-driven decisions, positioning itself as an innovative alternative for those seeking healthier and more open online conversations.
Elon Musk is known for shaking things up. His achievements and failures show his willingness to stick to his convictions. But not everyone enjoys his approach. When he took over Twitter and rebranded it as X, many users felt alienated by sudden changes to moderation, algorithm transparency, and general platform direction. The discontent created left room for something different – a platform designed to empower users and communities rather than advertisers and algorithms. That’s how Bluesky came to be.
Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform focused on user control, open discourse, and transparent technology. Its rise, especially after the election, is impressive, with the platform welcoming 1 million new users on November 12. But how did Bluesky grow from an idea to a movement? And what makes it so compelling compared to its competitors? Let’s break it down.
What is Bluesky Social?
Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform that started as a side project under Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, in 2019. At the time, Dorsey envisioned a platform that wasn’t tied to centralized servers or corporate agendas. Bluesky took on a life of its own and became an independent company in 2021 under the leadership of Jay Graber, a software engineer and advocate for decentralized internet technologies.
The social media platform is built on the AT Protocol, an open-source framework that prioritizes user control, data portability, and community-driven innovation. Unlike platforms where decisions are dictated from the top down, Bluesky puts the power in the hands of its users.
In an interview with CNN, Jay Graber, the company’s CEO, describes Bluesky as a place where they can give people a way to engage productively. They’ve created space where users can interact freely, experiment with new ideas, and even build their own tools. Unlike the corporate-driven model of X, Bluesky operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, meaning its goals prioritize community benefit over shareholder profits.
And users seem to agree with the platform’s direction. With over 20 million active accounts and growing interest from individuals and organizations, Bluesky is carving its niche in social media.
Key Features of Bluesky Social
Let’s take a closer look at what makes Bluesky different.
Decentralized Architecture
Bluesky operates using a decentralized system. Users’ data lives on independent servers, not under the control of a single company. The design gives users more content ownership and reduces the risk of censorship or data misuse.
Algorithmic Choice
On most social platforms, algorithms decide what you see. On Bluesky, you decide what you see.
Bluesky provides a marketplace of algorithms where users can choose how their feed is curated. Want news updates? Choose an algorithm tailored for that. Prefer a chill feed full of memes? There’s an option for that too.
The platform’s flexibility means users experience social media on their own terms.
User-Managed Moderation
With Bluesky, users and communities can create their own rules through independent moderation tools. They can also block, mute, or filter content based on their preferences.
Unlike other social media platforms, where moderation often feels like a top-down decision, Bluesky’s model is community-driven. You can create their own moderation services, offering more flexibility and control.
Federated Design
Bluesky’s federated model allows users to join and create communities (called servers) within the platform. These communities function independently while still being part of a larger network. If you’re unhappy with your server’s rules, you can move to a different one without losing your followers or content.
Stronger Blocking Features
On Bluesky, blocking someone means they can’t see or interact with your content – not even through backdoors like retweets or indirect replies.
How is Bluesky Different from X?
Comparisons between Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) are unavoidable. After all, Jack Dorsey envisioned Bluesky as an answer to many of Twitter’s challenges. But how do the two platforms differ?
Ownership
Elon Musk owns X, and his vision shapes the company. Bluesky is independent. As a Public Benefit Corporation, it prioritizes its users and mission over profits.
Data Portability
On Bluesky, users own their data. If they decide to leave one server, they can take their identity, followers, and content to another server without starting from scratch. This kind of flexibility is unheard of on centralized platforms like X.
Community Control
While X relies on centralized moderation, Bluesky allows users to shape their experience by setting their own rules.
Algorithm Transparency
Users are left in the dark about how X’s algorithms prioritize and display content. Bluesky aims to provide transparency and user choice by creating a marketplace for algorithms from various developers.
Userbase on Bluesky
As of November 2024, Bluesky had grown to approximately 20 million total users, marking a significant milestone for the decentralized social media platform. The network experienced a surge in popularity following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and the subsequent platform changes, attracting users seeking an alternative social media environment.
The election results led to many people who were unhappy with X saying they were leaving. Disinformation and algorithm controversies on other platforms also led many users to seek more balanced and user-focused alternatives. Bluesky filled that gap perfectly.
Prominent public figures, journalists, and companies have also joined the platform, lending it credibility and diversity.
Notable high-profile users include:
- Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur, investor, and media personality
- Former US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
- Mark Hamil, famous for playing Luke Sywalker, among other iconic roles
Bluesky’s early stage was invite-only to control growth and provide a seamless user experience during development. They’ve now opened the platform to everyone.
The Future of Bluesky
Bluesky’s leadership has ambitious plans for the platform. CEO Jay Graber has emphasized the importance of innovation and interaction, stating in an interview with CNN,
“Our goal is to give users an experience where they can have fun and feel safe. And so we’ve always focused a lot on trust and safety making sure that users have an ability to have an experience that’s free from bots and harassment and spam…But then beyond that we want a place where people can express their creativity, and so they can come on and explore an app store basically of all these feeds, like a marketplace of feeds, and then you can subscribe to the ones that you’re interested in sort of like subscribing to magazines.”
From Jay’s quote, it’s clear that Bluesky aims to expand its moderation tools, improve its algorithmic marketplace, and encourage developer collaboration. They plan to create a social media platform that evolves alongside its users rather than dictating their experience. Bluesky’s open-source foundation ensures transparency and invites innovation, making it a playground for developers and researchers.
Closing Thoughts
Bluesky represents more than just another social media platform—it signals a shift in how we connect online. For years, the internet has been dominated by centralized platforms, each shaping our conversations and behaviors to serve corporate interests. Bluesky challenges that narrative by giving control back to users, offering a glimpse into what social media could look like when built around community values and transparency.
However, it raises an important question: Is decentralization the future of the web, or will it remain a niche for early adopters? Bluesky’s success hinges on its ability to balance innovation with accessibility, ensuring that people from all walks of life can participate. As we face growing concerns about privacy, misinformation, and online toxicity, platforms like Bluesky remind us that change is possible.
The question isn’t whether social media needs to evolve – it’s how we, as users, will shape its next chapter.
