What is Bluesky? Everything to know about the X competitor

Is the grass greener on the other side? We’re not sure, but the sky is definitely bluer. It’s been two years since Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, prompting many users to explore alternative platforms. While services like Mastodon, Post, Pebble (now defunct), and Spill have emerged as potential replacements, Bluesky has experienced the fastest growth, outpacing the competition.

As of November 2024, Bluesky has surpassed 20 million users, fueled by several policy shifts at X, such as the controversial change to the block feature and allowing third-party companies to use user posts for AI training. This drove Bluesky to the top of the U.S. App Store. The platform also saw a boost after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, along with an exodus of Taylor Swift fans from X. However, Bluesky still has a long way to go to catch up with Threads, which boasts 275 million monthly active users.

In this post, we’ll answer some of the most common questions users have about Bluesky, and if you’ve made the switch, feel free to follow TechCrunch here.

What is Bluesky?

Bluesky is a decentralized social network developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. It features a Twitter-like interface, offering algorithmic content, federated design, and community-specific moderation. Built using an open-source framework called the AT Protocol, Bluesky provides transparency about how it’s developed.

The idea for Bluesky was introduced by Dorsey in 2019 when he was still at Twitter. He envisioned it as a decentralized social media standard, which Twitter might eventually adopt. But with Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, Bluesky has since evolved into a completely separate entity. As of May 2024, Dorsey stepped down from the company’s board, and Bluesky became an independent public benefit corporation led by CEO Jay Graber.

How do you use Bluesky?

When signing up for Bluesky, you create a handle in the format @username.bsky.social, and can choose a display name that will appear in bold. If you own a domain, you can customize your handle, like @amanda.omg.lol.

The app functions similarly to a basic version of X, where you can post up to 256 characters with photos. You can also reply to posts, retweet, like, report, share, or copy them. You can follow other users and view their posts in your “Home” timeline.

Bluesky previously had a “What’s Hot” feed but has since replaced it with the “Discover” feed, which is algorithmically personalized and includes more than just trending content. New users are introduced to the platform through a “Starter Pack” that curates a list of people and feeds to follow, helping them find interesting content quickly.

User profiles are similar to those on other platforms, with options for a profile picture, background, bio, metrics, and a list of followers. Profiles are divided into sections for posts and posts & replies.

The “Discover” tab in the app’s navigation offers suggestions for who to follow and a feed of recent updates from Bluesky users.

For more guidance, check out our comprehensive Bluesky usage guide here.

Who’s on Bluesky?

By July 2023, around the time Instagram’s Threads launched, Bluesky had surpassed one million downloads on iOS and Android. High-profile users like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Cuban, Dril, Weird Al Yankovic, and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have joined the platform. It’s also attracted major news organizations, including Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and TechCrunch. As of August 2024, Bluesky has opened its doors to heads of state, allowing them to join the platform officially.

Does Bluesky work like X?

In many ways, it’s similar. Initially, Bluesky didn’t have direct messaging, but one-to-one DMs are now available, though group messaging is not yet supported. Bluesky has expressed interest in adding features like X’s Community Notes. Unlike X, however, Bluesky operates on a decentralized protocol (AT Protocol) instead of ActivityPub.

Bluesky also differentiates itself with its traditional block feature, which completely prevents blocked users from seeing your profile or posts. This contrasts with X’s October 2024 update, where blocked users can still view your posts but can’t interact with them. Many users view X’s change as a safety concern, leading to a surge in Bluesky sign-ups.

Additionally, Bluesky has stated it has “no intention” of using user content to train AI models, a stance that diverges sharply from X’s new terms of service, which allow AI training on public posts.

While Bluesky began as a project initiated by Jack Dorsey in 2019 during his tenure at Twitter, it has operated as an independent company since its official founding in 2021.

Is Bluesky free?

Yes, Bluesky is free and now open to the public.

How does Bluesky make money?

Bluesky aims to sustain its network without relying on advertising or selling user data. In July 2023, it secured additional seed funding and introduced a paid service for custom domain handles, allowing users to create unique usernames.

In November 2024, Bluesky raised a $15 million Series A round and announced plans for a subscription service offering premium features like higher-quality video uploads and advanced profile customizations. Unlike X’s premium offerings, Bluesky emphasizes that its subscription model will avoid a “pay-to-win” structure, focusing instead on enhancing user experience without compromising its core principles.

Is Bluesky Decentralized?

Yes, Bluesky is built on the decentralized AT Protocol. While users currently join the bsky.social network during its beta phase, the platform is designed to be federated. This means countless independent communities can be created within the open-source network. For example, if a developer creates a new social app using the AT Protocol, Bluesky users can seamlessly transition to the new app while retaining their followers, handle, and data.

“You’ll always have the freedom to choose (and to exit) instead of being held to the whims of private companies or black box algorithms. And wherever you go, your friends and relationships will be there too,” explained a Bluesky blog post.

Is Bluesky Secure?

In October 2023, Bluesky introduced email verification to enhance account security and authentication. This move marked an important step toward competing with larger networks like X, which offer more advanced security measures.

In December 2023, following user backlash, Bluesky allowed users to opt out of a change that would have made posts publicly accessible on the web, further reinforcing its commitment to user privacy.

Is Bluesky Customizable?

Yes, customization is one of Bluesky’s strengths. In May 2023, the platform launched “custom feeds,” enabling users to subscribe to different algorithms showcasing specific types of posts. These feeds can be pinned as tabs at the top of a user’s timeline for easy access and are managed under the “My Feeds” section in the app’s sidebar.

In March 2024, Bluesky announced its “AT Protocol Grants” program, which funds developers to foster innovation and customization. One grant recipient, SkyFeed, provides a tool that allows users to create their own feeds using a graphical interface.

Is Bluesky Available on iOS and Android?

Yes. Bluesky launched for iOS in February 2023 and expanded to Android users on April 20. It’s also accessible on the web here.

How Does Bluesky Tackle Misinformation?

In October 2023, Bluesky introduced a feature to combat misleading links. If a shared link doesn’t match the accompanying text, the app flags it with a “possibly misleading” warning. This measure helps users avoid being directed to unintended or deceptive websites.

Has Bluesky Faced Controversies?

Yes, Bluesky has encountered several moderation challenges since its launch. The platform has been criticized for failing to adequately protect marginalized users and for not addressing racist content effectively. A notable controversy arose when Bluesky allowed racial slurs in account handles. This led to a “posting strike” by frustrated users, who demanded the platform implement safeguards to flag offensive terms in usernames.

What Moderation Features Does Bluesky Offer?

In December 2023, Bluesky’s Safety team announced significant updates to its moderation tools:

• Automated Moderation Tools: Bluesky introduced advanced automated systems to flag content violating Community Guidelines, which are reviewed by the moderation team.

• User and Moderation Lists: Similar to features on X, these tools let users mute or block multiple accounts simultaneously.

• Reply Restrictions: Bluesky is developing a feature to allow users to limit who can reply to their posts.

Despite these efforts, some users continue to advocate for private account settings, a request that has gained urgency since Bluesky’s public web interface launch.

In March 2024, Bluesky introduced Ozone, a tool enabling users to create and manage independent moderation services, giving them unprecedented control over their social media experience.

How Does Bluesky Compare to Mastodon?

While Bluesky’s decentralized architecture is similar to Mastodon’s, it’s generally considered more user-friendly. Mastodon’s requirement to choose an “instance” (server) during sign-up can be confusing for new users, and its established posting norms can feel intimidating. Recognizing this, Mastodon recently simplified its onboarding process by making mastodon.social the default server for new users.

Bluesky plans to introduce federation, allowing users to choose and switch servers freely, making it function more like Mastodon in the future.

Who Owns Bluesky?

Bluesky was initially funded by Jack Dorsey, but he no longer sits on the company’s board or participates in daily operations. The CEO, Jay Graber, previously worked as a software engineer for the cryptocurrency Zcash and later founded an event-planning platform called Happening.