Bluesky: Twitter's Decentralized Alternative

Since Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter in 2022, many users have sought alternative social media platforms. Bluesky, a project conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has emerged as a potential contender. Bluesky offers a decentralized approach to social media, aiming to give users more control over their data and experiences.

• Users can choose how their data is used.
• The platform operates on an open-source framework, the AT Protocol.
• It is built on ActivityPub, a standard that enables interoperability with other decentralized platforms like Mastodon.

Bluesky's Features

Bluesky provides a familiar user interface that resembles Twitter, with features like posting, liking, retweeting, and following. However, it includes some distinct functionalities:

• Customizable Algorithms: Users can choose from different algorithms to personalize their feed.
• Starter Pack: New users are provided with a curated list of accounts to follow.
• Direct Messages: Bluesky now supports one-to-one direct messages.
• Community Notes: Bluesky is exploring the implementation of a feature similar to Twitter's Community Notes.

Growth and User Base

Bluesky has witnessed significant growth since its public launch in February 2024. It attracted almost 800,000 new users in its first day and has surpassed 9 million users as of September 2024.

• Despite its rapid growth, Bluesky still lags behind other social media platforms like Meta’s Threads, which has over 130 million monthly active users.
• Bluesky's growth has been fueled by events like the ban of X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil.

Competition with Other Twitter Alternatives

Bluesky is not the only alternative to Twitter. Other platforms such as Mastodon and Threads are also attracting users. Each platform offers different advantages and disadvantages.

Platform	Features	Pros	Cons
Bluesky	Decentralized, customizable algorithms, Starter Pack, direct messages, community notes (in development)	Decentralized, user-friendly, growing user base, familiar interface	Smaller user base than Threads, lacks some features of X
Threads	Instagram integration, focused on text-based conversations, limited features	Large user base, strong integration with Instagram, simple interface	Limited functionality compared to Twitter, no direct messages or retweeting
Mastodon	Decentralized, multiple servers (instances), open-source, focused on community	Decentralized, strong community focus, diverse instances	Can be overwhelming for new users, complex instance selection process

Moderation and Security

Bluesky is actively working to improve its moderation and security features to provide a safer environment for users.

• Bluesky has implemented email verification to enhance account security.
• It warns users about potentially misleading links to combat misinformation.
• The platform is rolling out automated moderation tools and user lists to address content violations.
• Bluesky has launched Ozone, a tool that allows users to create custom moderation services.

Future of Bluesky

Bluesky is still in its early stages, but its decentralized approach and growing user base have positioned it as a potential force in the future of social media. Its emphasis on user control, transparency, and interoperability may attract users seeking alternatives to centralized platforms.

• The full implementation of federation will allow users to move their accounts between different servers and platforms, further decentralizing the social media landscape.
• Bluesky's continued development and innovation will be critical to its long-term success.