Bluesky

Bluesky is an American microblogging social media platform that allows users to share short posts containing text, images, and video. It began as a research initiative inside Twitter in 2019, conceived by then-CEO Jack Dorsey, before spinning off into an independent public-benefit corporation in 2022. The platform is built on the AT Protocol, an open, decentralized communication framework designed to enable distributed, interoperable social networking rather than control by a single company.

Bluesky distinguishes itself through an emphasis on user choice and openness. It offers a marketplace of customizable algorithmic feeds, letting users select or create their own content curation systems. Community-driven moderation and labeling tools allow users to manage their experience, while features like starter packs help quickly find and follow related accounts. A domain-based handle system enables self-verification, giving users ownership of their online identity. The platform gained rapid traction following the 2024 U.S. election, surpassing 20 million users as many sought alternatives to X. Its user base skews toward journalists, academics, artists, and technologists, attracted by its open ethos and familiar interface.

While still smaller than the largest social networks, Bluesky has established itself as one of the most prominent experiments in decentralized social media. Its growth reflects a broader movement toward user control and algorithm transparency. The platform continues to evolve, adding features like Direct Messages and video support, and has been adopted by Altmetric as a research attention source, underscoring its relevance in academic and journalistic circles. [edit]