Everything you need to know about Bluesky: keys to the trendy alternative to Twitter

Since Twitter became part of Elon Musk‘s portfolio of companies, we have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions with all the changes and controversies surrounding the social network. These range from the dismissal of thousands of employees to its rebranding as X. However, none of these compare to the impact of Musk’s prominent role as the figurehead of the campaign that brought Donald Trump to the White House.

With a tarnished reputation, Twitter—now X—has been perceived by many as a symbol of misinformation and toxicity on social media. It has also been accused of playing a significant role in Trump’s victory. As a result, many users have migrated from the former Twitter to other open platforms with similar frameworks. This shift has fueled the recent growth of Threads and a lesser-known alternative, Bluesky.

But you might be wondering: what is Bluesky? How does it work? And how can you sign up? Stay with us, and we’ll tell you more about this social network, which was born from the very foundations of Twitter itself.

1. What is Bluesky and how it was born

Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform founded by Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, with the goal of providing a more open and user-controlled alternative. While serving as Twitter’s CEO, Dorsey led the creation and development of Bluesky and began experimenting with a protocol that would enable the creation of a more decentralized social network.

In his own words: “Bluesky is a social application designed not to be controlled by a single company. We are creating a version of social media where many people build it, yet it still comes together as a cohesive and easy-to-use experience. We achieved this by building Bluesky on the AT protocol, an open-source toolkit for creating social applications that can communicate with one another.”

2. How does Bluesky work

Unlike centralized platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky uses the AT Protocol, which gives users greater control over their data and online experiences while enabling what the company calls “account portability.”

The company describes this protocol as: “A networking technology created by Bluesky to power the next generation of social applications.” Users can join the network from their own server (similar to Mastodon), with “Bluesky Social” being the most popular and the default option offered during registration. The key feature is that each server provides the flexibility needed to customize the experience within the platform.

The company explains this with the following analogy:

“Whenever you create an account on a social platform, it’s like moving to a new city. You make friends and create posts, which is like filling your house with furniture you made yourself. But on centralized social platforms, if you leave, it’s like leaving all your friends behind without a way to contact them, and walking away from your house without being able to take anything with you. Leaving a centralized site and starting from scratch is very difficult.

Essentially, the AT Protocol allows people to move between cities. Creating a standard format for identity and data is like giving people a passport, a cellphone, and property rights. If you don’t like the first city you moved to, you can move to another and take all your belongings (data) with you. Your friends will still be able to find and stay in touch with you using the same name and number (identity and follower graph).”

3. How to register on Bluesky

As of February 2024, Bluesky is open to the public without requiring an invitation. You can register through the website (which works very smoothly, by the way) or via the official app, available for both Android and iOS.

When signing up, the platform will ask for a username, your date of birth, and, of course, a profile picture, just like any other social network.

Then, after choosing your interests from a list, you will be able to access the network, which, as you will see, looks very similar to Twitter .

4. Is it a free app?

Yes, totally 🙂

5. How Does Bluesky Make Money?

While the company is working on integrating paid features in the future, its current source of income comes from investments it has received. For example, in November 2024, Bluesky closed a funding round of $15 million.

For most users, this represents one of Bluesky’s strengths compared to Twitter: there is no advertising. Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter began to see an excessive proliferation of ads, often unrelated to users’ interests, featuring a wide range of products and services with little to no personalization. This absence of ads makes Bluesky a more appealing option for many.

90 days ago Bluesky had 6.18M users
30 days ago Bluesky had 10.85M users
Tomorrow Bluesky will have 15M users

This is absolutely wild, thanks for believing in us y’all

— Jaz (@jaz.bsky.social) 13 de noviembre de 2024, 7:50

Feeds

Since last summer, Bluesky has featured an algorithmic feed called Discover, which personalizes content based on what the user enjoys viewing while also providing an overview of trends on the network. The initial version of Discover combines a global view of trending topics with posts from accounts the user follows and posts from accounts close to their social graph. Additionally, the platform offers extensive customization options to follow multiple feeds.

These feeds, created and moderated by both Bluesky and its members, appear as a dedicated tab alongside the other two main feeds (Discover and “Following”). They are one of the network’s key attractions, allowing users to fully “dive” into a specific thematic area and escape the general conversation.

Of course you can also use hashtags, as on Twitter, to tag and follow related content by topic.

6. ¿Cómo maneja Bluesky la moderación de contenido y las políticas de uso?

En cuanto a lo que moderación de contenido se refiere, Bluesky cuenta con múltiples opciones para que los usuarios puedan sentirse cómodos al usar la red. Los usuarios podrán crear listas de moderación, silenciar palabras y hashtags, además de cuentas, que también pueden bloquear.

De hecho, el bloqueo es uno de los grandes atractivos para los usuarios que llegan a Bluesky hartos del ambiente hostil de Twitter: el bloqueo en Bluesky implica que las cuentas bloqueadas no podrán dar me gusta, responderte, mencionarte ni seguirte. Sus publicaciones, respuestas y perfil en la búsqueda también estarán ocultos para ti. Además, en Bluesky abundan las “listas de bloqueo”, que permiten hacer blocks masivos, preventivos y por adelantado a muchos usuarios de un solo golpe, que han sido identificados como generadores de toxicidad por otros.

Eso sí, los bloqueos son públicos.

Además pueden elegir si desean silenciar o ver un contenido, o advertir sobre el mismo en el caso de que sea inadecuado. Con estas funciones Bluesky pretende crear un espacio donde se priorice la seguridad de los usuarios.

They can also choose whether they want to mute or view content, or warn about it in case it is inappropriate. With these functions Bluesky aims to create a space where users’ safety is prioritized.

In any case, the platform promotes decentralized moderation, allowing communities to set their own rules and policies, trying to maintain a safe and respectful environment.

9. How Does Bluesky Differ from Mastodon or Threads?

Decentralization

• Bluesky: Utilizes the AT Protocol, a decentralized technology that gives users more control over their data and experiences.
• Mastodon: Operates on the ActivityPub protocol, which is also decentralized and functions as a federated network. Each server can have its own rules and communities, creating a more fragmented but autonomous ecosystem.
• Threads: Is centralized, run directly by Meta, and does not currently offer decentralization options.

Content Control and Algorithms

• Bluesky: Allows users to customize content algorithms, offering a highly personalized and transparent experience.
• Mastodon: Does not use algorithms to prioritize content; feeds are chronological, aiming for a more direct, unfiltered experience.
• Threads: Uses algorithms controlled by Meta to suggest content, based on user interactions within the platform’s ecosystem.

Ease of Use and Design

• Bluesky: Visually resembles a hybrid of Mastodon and Twitter, with a user-friendly interface and simplified features. It appeals to users seeking a balance between decentralization and ease of use.
• Mastodon: Its design can be more confusing for new users, as they need to choose a server and understand how federations work.
• Threads: Provides a straightforward and integrated experience for existing Instagram users, leveraging the synergy between the two platforms.

10. How many users does Bluesky have?

On November 15, 2024, the network celebrated having reached 15 million users, a milestone since just six months earlier, in March, it only had 5 million. In fact, in a post, the social network itself celebrated having reached one million users in just one day.

it’s official — 1,000,000 people have joined Bluesky in just the last day!!!

welcome and thank you for being here

[image or embed]

— Bluesky (@bsky.app) 15 de noviembre de 2024, 1:53

As of today, November 18, Bluesky continues to grow at an astonishing pace, and already has 19 million users and ranks as the most downloaded app in both the Play Store and the Apple App Store.

With steady growth and a growing user base, Bluesky is still far from the social networks with the most users in the world, but it is positioning itself as an interesting alternative to traditional social networks, offering a more controlled and personalized experience.

Image: Flux Schnell