- Bluesky is available on its website (bsky.app) and as a mobile app (iOS and Android), which enables users to sign up.
- Note that in sign-up, you will be required to give username, email and password.
- It is possible to choose your profile picture, interest, and bio.
- You are able to follow other people, post (network, photographs, videos) and you can like, comment, share or pin the posts.
- By navigating to the So-called "Feeds", you will find new feeds on different subjects.
Post Interaction Customization: when making a post, you can choose who can comment on your post, everybody, or just your followers, or those that are mentioned in your post.
👉 Main Ideas and Attributes:
Decentralization: The largest attribute of Bluesky is that it is decentralized. It does not mean that it is governed by one server or any other company but rather, it is run by a federation of many different independent servers (PDS - Personal Data Servers). This allows the users to have greater control over data and their accounts and also, they have the option of transferring their data to other servers in case they want to.
AT Protocol: Bluesky is based on the AT Protocol, which does not share a feature with other decentralized social media protocols such as ActivityPub (implemented by Mastodon). The goal of the AT Protocol is to provide identity, data portability, and interoperability to its users.
Custom Algorithmic Feeds: Users can create or choose to have their own algorithmic feeds in Bluesky. This implies that you are able to view posts depending on your preferences as compared to the other social media platforms which are on a " For You" basis whereby algorithms push posts depending on the activity. This can be called a "marketplace of algorithms."
User-Based Moderation: The premise enables the selection of moderation and labeling services. Content can be reported by the users and reviewed by human moderators. One more thing that users can do is make their own moderation lists when they can block or mute certain accounts or contents.
Post Interaction Customization: It can be customized to have settings on how the interaction can be configured to each post. You will be able to choose who has the right to respond you or to quote your posts. Domain-Name-Based Handle System: Bluesky lets you check your account with your own domain name, which makes it prove the legitimacy and identity of your account. Portability: At protocol shall enable its users to carry their data and their identity they are using on one server to the other. This implies that in case you are not comfortable with the current hosting you have (PDS), you can get your posts, followers, and friends list within a very short period and transfer it to another server. This avoids the issue of Lock-in of data where it is prevalent in the traditional centralized platforms. Identity & Accounts: In AT Protocol, DID (Decentralized Identifier) is used to create identities of a user. This is a secure global identifier that is cryptographically safe. By using this DID, you are able to confirm your profile by your localized domain names (e.g., yourname.com), which proves your existence to be more powerful and credible. Federation: AT Protocol has a federation schema wherein different non-integrated servers are linked to one another. Such servers are referred to as PDS (Personal Data Servers). The users have the option of selecting their respective PDSs and these PDSs connect with each other to create a bigger network. Consequently, Bluesky is a group of many distinct parts and not an entity. Algorithms & Moderation Plugins: The AT Protocol acts as an open market to provide third party developers the opportunity to provide custom algorithmic feeds (which can filter, sort, or otherwise organize the content on your timeline) and moderation services. This contributes to the personalisation of the user experience and makes the platform more versatile.
👉 This will be compared to Twitter (currently X).
- Decentralization vs. Centralization: Bluesky and X are decentralized and centralized, respectively. It implies that Bluesky will grant the users greater control over their content and data.
- Algorithmic Control: Bluesky gives users the choice to customize their own feed algorithms, or make their own, with X having the For Your page.
- Features: X already supports such features as polls, stories, native video uploads, and advanced messaging, not all of which Bluesky has comprehensively launched (e.g. direct video upload). Nevertheless, DMs (Direct Messages) are introduced on Bluesky.
- Verification: X has its blue tick verification system. Bluesky has the blue check verification and the ability to verify accounts with independent organizations through what is called the Trusted Verifiers. The user is also able to use their domains to verify accounts.
- The labeling system: Perhaps, one of the most important components of the AT Protocol is the labeling system. Content with harmful or inappropriate content can be labelled in the servers or by global moderation services (e.g. !hide, !warn, sexual, graphic-media). Users are enabled to determine the things labeled on their feeds to view or not to view.
- Block & Mute: To mute or block a particular account, the functionality is the same as in other social networks.
- Reporting: An appropriate system of intolerable content/behavior reporting exists. A moderation team of Bluesky itself examines such reports and acts on the same.
- Server-Based Moderation: Every PDS has an opportunity to impose its moderation policies. This gives users a choice of which moderating server they want to use.
- Network Takedown (Filtering content at API): This is through the conjunction of both user-based reporting and human and AI-based inspection.
Bluesky is expanding quite fast, and its developers keep expanding its features every now and then.
- Open-Source Development: The AT Protocol, the Bluesky client app are open-source. What this implies is that the developers can add to them making the platform more transparent.
- Economic Model: Bluesky is yet to disclose the specifics on its economic model. Paid PDS hosting, premium feature access, or custom algorithm market are avenues from which it might collect revenue in the future.
- Competition & Opportunity: Other decentralized platforms that Bluesky competes with include X (Twitter) and Mastodon. Being decentralized and being customizable, it can offer a good alternative.
- DM (Direct Messages) have started up recently.
- Video uploads, enhanced, custom feeds, and anti-harassment are in development.
- The AT Protocol development has additional plans, including Auth Scopes and Shared Data (e.g., group privacy) and E2EE DMs (End-to-End Encrypted Direct Messages).