On a Tuesday, the highly-anticipated decentralized social media venture Bluesky, championed by tech mogul Jack Dorsey, made a bold move by abolishing its exclusive invite-only status and welcoming all users with open arms.
Since its grand debut in February of 2023, the platform has been utilizing invite codes to experiment with cutting-edge features, including robust moderation tools and personalized feeds, setting it apart from its centralized counterparts such as Twitter.
Born as a revolutionary alternative to the traditional social media giants, Bluesky’s ultimate goal is to establish an open protocol for public discourse, granting users unprecedented control over their data and content consumption. While it initially premiered on iOS last year, its coveted invite-only status was held for quite some time, leaving the masses eagerly waiting to join the party.
Effortless Registration, Twitter-inspired Sharing
Bluesky boasts a familiar Twitter-esque layout, but its mission is to offer a one-of-a-kind experience tailored to each individual’s preferences.
Joining the platform is a breeze, and posting follows a similar format to Twitter, with a character limit of 300.
“We’ve designed the app in a way that puts control back in your hands. Here, your experience online isn’t controlled by a single company. Whether it’s your timeline or content filters, on Bluesky, you can easily customize your social experience,” the team stated.
Bluesky utilizes an in-house open-source framework known as the AT Protocol, allowing external parties to understand its structure and ongoing advancements. The project was first introduced by Dorsey in 2019 during his time as Twitter CEO. However, after Elon Musk took over the platform, Bluesky branched off on its own in 2023.
But don’t be fooled, Dorsey is not the owner of the company – he simply sits on the board alongside Bluesky’s CEO, Jay Graber.
Bluesky Takes the Lead with “Federation” Trial Version
Bluesky is currently juggling two major developments – the AT protocol and their microblogging app. The team has made it clear that their “decentralized” system does not rely on blockchain or cryptocurrency.
In the coming weeks, the project plans to introduce a trial version of “federation,” a game-changing feature that allows for an open and customizable network.
“On Bluesky, you have the freedom to choose (and the right to leave), instead of being held captive by the whims of private corporations or mysterious algorithms. And wherever you go, your connections and relationships can come with you,” the team expressed.
Over 3.4 Million and Counting
According to SimilarWeb, a data analysis firm, Bluesky has been gaining momentum since its launch. There has been a noticeable surge in user sign-ups after Twitter implemented monthly fees and restricted the number of daily posts users could view.
Currently, the platform boasts over 3.4 million users and a total of 144 million posts, as seen on Bluesky’s page that tracks user engagement.
From famous celebrities to influential politicians, many have already joined the Bluesky community, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Maxwell Frost from Florida, Sen. Brian Schatz from Hawaii, and Sen. Ron Wyden. The sky’s the limit for Bluesky!
