Is it better on the other side? We’re not sure, but what is certain is that the sky is bluer. Ever since Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now called X), people have been searching for alternatives. Although platforms like Mastodon, Post, Pebble (which has already shut down), and Spill have emerged as options, few have grown as rapidly as Bluesky, except for Meta’s Threads.
Bluesky was available by invitation only for almost a year, but in February 2024, it opened to the general public, gaining 800,000 new users in just one day. By October 2024, Bluesky had already surpassed 10 million users, partly due to the ban on X in Brazil and a controversial policy that helped the app climb into the top 5 of the U.S. App Store. While these numbers are encouraging, Bluesky is still far behind the 175 million users Threads reached in its first year.
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a decentralized social network created by Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, and developed independently. It offers an interface similar to Twitter, with algorithms, federated design, and community-driven moderation.
The platform is built on the AT Protocol, an open-source framework that provides transparency about its development. Dorsey introduced the project in 2019 while still running Twitter, with the idea of creating a decentralized standard for social networks. Although Twitter initially funded the project, after Musk’s acquisition, Bluesky took its own path, becoming fully independent.
As of May 2024, Dorsey is no longer part of Bluesky’s board, and the platform is now an independent public benefit corporation led by CEO Jay Graber.
How to Use Bluesky
When signing up, users create a username with the format @username.bsky.social and a bold display name. Users can also use a personal domain as their username. The platform functions similarly to basic Twitter, where users can create posts of up to 256 characters, including photos. These posts can be replied to, shared, or liked.
Users can follow others and view their updates in their “Home” timeline. The app includes a “Discover” feature, replacing the previous feed of popular posts with an algorithmically personalized one.
To enhance the experience for new users, Bluesky offers a “Starter Pack” with recommended profiles and personalized feeds to follow.
Who’s on Bluesky?
By July 2023, when Threads was launched, Bluesky had already surpassed one million downloads on iOS and Android. Notable figures such as Neil Gaiman, Dril, and Chelsea Manning have joined the platform, along with news organizations like Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and Engadget. As of August 2024, Bluesky also allows heads of state to join the network.
Is Bluesky Similar to X?
In many ways, yes. Initially, Bluesky didn’t have direct messaging like X, but that feature has now been added. Currently, direct messages are limited to one-on-one chats, but Bluesky has hinted at implementing something akin to X’s “Community Notes.” Additionally, X does not use a decentralized protocol like AT or ActivityPub.
In October 2024, Musk altered X’s block feature, sparking controversy. This led many users to register on Bluesky, which retains a more traditional block system.
Is Bluesky Free?
Yes, and it’s now open to the public.
How Does Bluesky Make Money?
Bluesky aims to stay away from advertising by offering paid services, such as custom domains for usernames. The company has also raised additional funding to keep operating without selling user data for ads.
Is Bluesky Decentralized?
Yes. Bluesky uses the AT Protocol, and although users can currently only join the bsky.social network, the goal is to federate, allowing independently operated communities to exist within the open-source ecosystem. Bluesky users could move their followers and data to other networks built on this protocol.
Is Bluesky Secure?
In October 2023, Bluesky introduced email verification to improve account security. Additionally, it allowed users to opt out of making their posts publicly accessible on the web after a backlash following an update.
Is Bluesky Customizable?
Yes. In May 2023, Bluesky launched “custom feeds,” which allow users to subscribe to various algorithms showing different types of content. These feeds can be pinned to the top of the timeline as separate tabs. Bluesky also offers grants to developers to encourage the creation of personalized tools and features.
Is Bluesky Available on iOS and Android?
Yes, Bluesky launched for iOS in February 2023 and for Android in April of the same year. It is also accessible through the web.
How Does Bluesky Address Misinformation?
Since an update in October 2023, Bluesky now flags potentially misleading links in posts, warning users if the link content doesn’t match the text.