Bluesky: The Decentralized Social Media Platform Gaining Momentum

When Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X), it spurred a wave of users exploring alternative social platforms. Among them, Mastodon, Post, Pebble, and Spill emerged as contenders, but few achieved the rapid growth seen by Bluesky—an innovative platform with a decentralized approach. While Meta’s Threads remains a significant competitor with its vast user base, Bluesky has carved out its unique niche in the social media landscape.

A Surge in Users and Open Access

Bluesky transitioned from an invite-only model to public access in February 2024, leading to a dramatic spike in users, with nearly 800,000 people joining in a single day. By November 2024, its user base exceeded 14.5 million. This growth was fueled in part by controversial policy updates at X, including changes to its blocking feature and data-sharing policies with AI companies, prompting many to seek alternatives. Additionally, political events, such as the 2024 U.S. presidential election, and endorsements by high-profile figures further bolstered Bluesky’s popularity.

What Sets Bluesky Apart?

Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol, an open-source framework that promotes transparency and decentralization. This allows users to carry their profiles, data, and connections across various apps within the same ecosystem, offering freedom from reliance on a single platform. Conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019, the project was initially funded by Twitter but became independent after Musk’s acquisition.

With a minimalist design reminiscent of early Twitter, Bluesky allows users to post 256-character updates, share media, and interact through replies, likes, and reposts. The app also features personalized feeds and a Discover tab to highlight trending content and account recommendations.

Key Features and Customization Options

Bluesky offers customization through features like:

Custom Feeds: Users can pin multiple feeds to tailor their timelines to specific interests.
Algorithm Transparency: Subscribers can select algorithms that showcase different types of content.
Moderation Tools: Options to mute, block, and report posts enhance user safety.

Additionally, Bluesky introduced “Starter Packs” for new users, curating recommended accounts and feeds to streamline onboarding.

Comparisons with Threads and Mastodon

While Threads boasts a larger user base with 275 million monthly active users, Bluesky stands out due to its decentralization and customizable features. It also competes with Mastodon, another decentralized network, but is perceived as more user-friendly, with simplified sign-up processes and fewer barriers to entry.

Bluesky’s Monetization and Funding

To sustain its operations without relying on ads or data monetization, Bluesky has introduced premium services, such as custom domains and subscription-based features like high-quality video uploads. A $15 million Series A funding round in November 2024 is enabling further development of these features.

Security and Moderation Efforts

Bluesky has faced challenges in moderating content but has made strides with automated moderation tools and community-driven solutions. In March 2024, it introduced Ozone, a moderation tool empowering users to create their own content management policies.

Published by: https://techcrunch.com/