Bluesky Social is a new app that aims to revolutionize the way people interact online. It is based on an open and decentralized standard for social media, which means that users have more control over their data, content, and communities. Bluesky Social also features a new butterfly logo, a Twitter-like user interface, and public posts that can be viewed without logging in.
Bluesky Social is a public benefit corporation that was conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019. Dorsey envisioned a social network that would not be controlled by any single company, but by a network of servers that follow a common protocol. This protocol, called the AT protocol, is open source and allows anyone to create their own social media platform or join an existing one.
Bluesky Social is one of the first platforms to use the AT protocol. It is designed to be similar to Twitter, but with some key differences. For example, Bluesky Social does not have ads, does not censor content, and does not collect user data. Users can also choose which algorithm they want to use to see posts, or switch to a chronological timeline. Additionally, users can join different communities that have their own rules and moderators, or create their own communities.
How to use Bluesky Social?
Bluesky Social is currently in beta testing and requires an invite code to join. Users who are invited can create a handle that is represented as @username.bsky.social, as well as a display name that appears more prominently. Users can also turn a domain name that they own into their username, such as @techcrunch.com.
The app itself functions much like a bare-bones Twitter, where users can create posts of 256 characters, which can also include photos. Posts can be replied to, retweeted, liked, reported, shared, or copied. Users can also discover new posts and people to follow from the Discover tab, which offers suggestions and a feed of recently posted Bluesky updates.
What’s new in Bluesky Social?
Bluesky Social recently released a new update, version 1.60, which introduces some new features and changes. The most noticeable change is the new butterfly logo, which replaces the previous blue sky logo. The butterfly symbolizes the transformation and evolution of social media, as well as the diversity and freedom of expression of Bluesky users.
Another new feature is the ability to view public posts without logging in. This means that anyone can access Bluesky Social and see what people are posting, without having to sign up or wait for an invite. However, users still need to log in to interact with posts or create their own posts. This feature is intended to increase the visibility and reach of Bluesky Social, as well as to showcase the benefits of decentralized social media.
Bluesky Social also offers more control over post visibility. Users can choose to make their posts public, private, or unlisted. Public posts can be seen by anyone, private posts can only be seen by followers, and unlisted posts can only be seen by those who have the link. Users can also choose to make their posts ephemeral, which means they will disappear after a certain period of time.
Why is Bluesky Social important?
Bluesky Social is important because it represents a new way of experiencing social media, one that is more open, decentralized, and user-centric. By using the AT protocol, Bluesky Social allows users to have more control over their data, content, and communities, as well as to enjoy a more diverse and authentic online interaction. Bluesky Social also challenges the dominance and influence of big tech companies, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google, which have been criticized for their practices of censorship, surveillance, and manipulation.
Bluesky Social is not the only platform that uses the AT protocol. There are other platforms, such as Mastodon, Counter.Social, Diaspora*, T2 Social, and Threads, that also offer alternative ways of social networking. However, Bluesky Social is the most popular and widely used platform so far, with over 370,000 users and almost 2 million on the waiting list. Bluesky Social hopes to attract more users and developers, as well as to open its protocol to other sites and launch public sign-ups soon.
