Bluesky Social is a platform created in the year 2021. It was created from Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter. On its first look, it appears and feels a lot like X (formerly Twitter), users are microblogging and expressing their thoughts. But, its core is more flexible than other well-known platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or X.
Bluesky is created to give users more control over their information and their experience. Bluesky is a departure from the traditional social network that is centralized model, and focuses upon centralization and control of the user.
How Bluesky Social Works
Bluesky is based on an open-source protocol known as AT Protocol. AT Protocol, that gives users more access to their personal data. Without getting too involved in the technical details, let’s look at an easy analogy:
Think of that you are using the AT Protocol as the email system: a set of rules, guidelines and standards that help make communication occur. Bluesky is, in this way is a type of email service (such such as Yahoo as well as Gmail) and provides an interface to engage.
How this analogy fits:
- AT Protocol (like email standards): Just like email depends on standardization (SMTP, IMAP, POP) to communicate across different services The AT Protocol defines how social interactions take place within a decentralized system. It manages data, authentication and identity across all applications that are using it.
- Bluesky (like an email service): Bluesky, similar to Yahoo Mail, simplifies access to the AT Protocol, managing user accounts interactions, posts, and other information. Similar to how you can use multiple mail providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook) There could be various servers or apps that use AT Protocol. AT Protocol. In the near future it is possible that there will be other services that use this protocol and Bluesky users could communicate with them.
- The Decentralized network (like that email platform): Like emailing from Yahoo to Gmail, Bluesky users can join with other platforms by using AT Protocol. AT Protocol. You can follow a person who is on a different platform and they’ll follow you in return, regardless of which application you’re using. Anyone could theoretically create their own server using an AT Protocol, choosing where their data will be stored. This is similar to creating the email servers. These services all communicate and exchange data.
Key Features of Bluesky Social
1. Decentralization
Bluesky embraces decentralization. However, The is not Blockchain neither does it utilize any blockchain. Decentralization means that users have control over what data they store. This increases privacy and keeps an individual entity from monopolizing the platform.
Similar to the analogy with email Similar to the email analogy, you can select your service provider and transfer all your information between the two. Bluesky allows you to transfer your account and information across hosts, without degrading followers or your content.
2. Filtering, Moderation, and Algorithms
On a variety of platforms, algorithms manage the content you see on your feed, which can lead to a less personalized experience.
Bluesky gives you more control over your user and lets you choose what algorithms will influence your feed. You can design custom feeds based upon the preferences you have and then share it with friends.
Here are some example feeds shared by Bluesky users or the team:
- Discover: Trending content from your network https://bsky.app/profile/bsky.app/feed/whats-hot
- Quiet Posters: Posts from your quieter followers https://bsky.app/profile/why.bsky.team/feed/infreq
- Art: Images posted by artists on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/bsky.art/feed/art-new
- Mutuals: Posts from users who are following you back https://bsky.app/profile/skyfeed.xyz/feed/mutuals
3. Username Ownership: Handle as a Domain Name
Bluesky employs an unique method to handle usernames. Each handle used by users in AT Protocol is a valid domain name, for example youthindia.in.
Here is how our handle appears on a Bluesky link: https://bsky.app/profile/instantusername.com
For users without a domain, Bluesky assigns a subdomain under bsky.social (e.g., yourname.bsky.social). This handle is assigned to serve two functions:
- It acts as your unique identifier within the Bluesky network.
- It can be used to directly access your profile.
For instance, if a account’s username has the handle zuck.bsky.social, you can go to their profile by typing the URL into your browser:
This method ensures that your username is easily transferable and easy to remember, providing the possibility of a whole the ability to take control of the online persona.
4. User Interface
If you’ve previously used X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky will be a bit familiar. Bluesky has an identical layout, including an overview of posts, reposts, likes and followers. You can publish pictures, text and videos (recently added in September 2024) as well as links, and engage with other users via the comments section and directly messages.
5. Open Source
Bluesky as well as AT Protocol and Bluesky AT Protocol are both open source which means that their code is accessible to anyone who wants to look at and contribute to or enhance. This guarantees transparency and promotes creativity within the community.
- Bluesky on GitHub: https://github.com/bluesky-social/social-app
- AT Protocol on GitHub: https://github.com/bluesky-social/atproto
Final Thoughts
Bluesky Social is changing the game by emphasizing the decentralization of control for users and security. With an intuitive user interface that is similar with X and the revolutionary AT Protocol, it offers an alternative to the traditional online social networks. Additionally, its open-source character along with contributions of developers around the world make it a formidable competitor in the world of decentralized social networks.
If you’re looking for more privacy, flexibility or just curious about how social media will evolve in the near future, Bluesky is worth keeping an eye on.
If you’re already a member of Bluesky or plan to join, please feel free to follow us on Facebook for more news and discussions on social media that is decentralized!