- February 8, 2024
- Posted by: [email protected]
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In a significant development for the decentralized social media landscape, Bluesky, the brainchild of Jack Dorsey, has recently removed its invite-only restrictions, extending access to all users. Since its inauguration in February 2023, Bluesky has been at the forefront of innovation, employing invite codes to refine features like moderation tools and personalized feeds.
The project’s core mission revolves around providing an alternative to centralized platforms, notably Twitter. Bluesky aspires to establish an open protocol for public discourse, granting users unprecedented control over their data and the content they encounter. Although initially limited to iOS and accessible through invitation only, Bluesky’s interface mirrors the familiar design of Twitter while promising a more tailored and personalized user experience.
Bluesky’s onboarding process is seamless, with posting on the platform resembling the familiar Twitter model, complete with a 300-character limit. The Bluesky team emphasizes a user-centric approach, stating, “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.”
Underpinning Bluesky’s architecture is an internally developed open-source framework known as the AT Protocol. This choice allows external entities to comprehend the platform’s construction and stay abreast of ongoing developments. Jack Dorsey introduced Bluesky in 2019 during his tenure at Twitter. However, the project took an independent trajectory in 2023 following Elon Musk’s assumption of control at Twitter. Despite his pivotal role in its inception, Dorsey does not own Bluesky; he occupies a position on the board alongside Bluesky CEO Jay Graber.
Notably, Bluesky distinguishes itself by opting not to leverage blockchain or cryptocurrencies in its decentralized system. The project concurrently focuses on two key elements: the ongoing development of the AT Protocol and the refinement of its microblogging app. Anticipating a major milestone, Bluesky is set to release a trial version of “federation” later this month—a feature designed to enhance the openness and customizability of the network.
Monitoring Bluesky’s trajectory, data analysis firm SimilarWeb reports steady growth since its launch. Noteworthy spikes in user sign-ups were observed following alterations in platform policies by competitor X. As of now, Bluesky boasts a user base of 3.4 million, with a cumulative post count exceeding 144 million. The platform has garnered attention from notable figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Sen. Brian Schatz, and Sen. Ron Wyden, signaling a growing community and interest in the potential of decentralized social media.
