Is the Horizon Brighter with Bluesky? Exploring the App Aiming to Revolutionize Social Media
Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now known as X, over a year has passed, prompting users to seek refuge on alternative platforms. While platforms like Mastodon, Post, Pebble (now defunct), and Spill have emerged as potential substitutes, only a few, including Meta’s Threads, have seen the kind of rapid growth achieved by Bluesky.
Despite remaining invite-only during its beta phase, Bluesky’s popularity is on the rise, although, as seen with apps like Clubhouse, sustained hype is never guaranteed. Currently boasting over two million users, a significant jump from the one million reported in September, Bluesky has been experiencing an average of 8,300 first-time installs per day as of July 2023. Notably, Bluesky often sees increased usage following less favorable changes made to X by Musk. While the initial demand for invite codes during the app’s launch was high, access has become more readily available as more users join the platform.
Here’s a breakdown of some common questions about Bluesky:
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky, a decentralized social app conceived by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, was developed alongside Twitter. The platform features a Twitter-like interface with a federated design, algorithmic choices, and community-specific moderation.
Utilizing an open-source framework, the AT Protocol, Bluesky offers transparency to users outside the company regarding its development.
Dorsey introduced the Bluesky project in 2019 while still at Twitter, envisioning it as a decentralized standard for social media. However, following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, Bluesky became entirely independent from the platform in 2022.
How do you use Bluesky?
Upon receiving an invitation, users can create a handle represented as @username.bsky.social. The app functions similarly to Twitter, allowing users to create posts of up to 256 characters, including photos. Bluesky features a “Home” timeline for viewing updates from followed accounts, as well as a personalized “Discover” feed.
How do I get invited to Bluesky?
Bluesky provides users with one invite code every two weeks. The company assesses users’ activity and trustworthiness to allocate additional invite codes.
Who’s on Bluesky?
Bluesky has attracted notable figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Neil Gaiman, and Chelsea Manning, along with organizations and journalists.
Does Bluesky work just like Twitter?
Bluesky shares similarities with Twitter but lacks direct messaging and some advanced features.
Is Bluesky free?
Yes, but access is currently invite-only.
How does Bluesky make money?
Bluesky aims to sustain its network without advertising, offering paid services like custom domains for end users.
Is Bluesky decentralized?
Yes, Bluesky is developing the decentralized AT Protocol, allowing for a federated network of independently operated communities.
Is Bluesky secure?
Bluesky has implemented email verification to enhance account security.
Is Bluesky customizable?
Bluesky offers custom algorithms and feeds, allowing users to subscribe to different content preferences.
Is Bluesky available on iOS and Android?
Yes, Bluesky is accessible on both iOS and Android platforms, with a web version also available.
Who owns Bluesky?
While Jack Dorsey funded Bluesky and sits on its board, day-to-day operations are managed by CEO Jay Graber.
Bluesky’s journey highlights its potential to reshape social media while navigating challenges inherent to platform growth and development.