Bluesky: The New Social Media Frontier #

In October 2022, when Elon Musk acquired X, previously known as Twitter, several alternative platforms like Mastodon and Hive Social saw a surge in new users. Later entrants, including Threads and Bluesky, also experienced a spike in sign-ups.

Following the 2024 presidential election, Bluesky has witnessed millions of new users joining its platform. Bluesky offers a desktop and app-based social network similar to X, allowing users to post text, videos, and photos, reply to posts, and share content. Initially requiring an invitation, it now allows anyone with an email to create an account.

Users can write posts by clicking ‘New Post’ with a pen-and-paper icon. Posts have a 300-character limit and can include multimedia content. Although posts are commonly called ‘posts,’ there is a controversial push to rename them ‘skeets.’

Bluesky employs a mix of algorithm-driven content and personalization features. Users can toggle between different feeds, such as posts from followed accounts and a Discover feed. Discover functions like X’s For You page, showcasing popular posts based on the user’s activity. Feeds can be personalized through lists, feeds, and Starter Packs. Lists group together accounts based on specific interests, while feeds customize the type of posts viewed based on topics or keywords.

The layout of Bluesky mirrors that of X, with a similar control panel and color scheme. However, on Bluesky, users verify their identity through personal website links, lacking the check mark system used by Meta or X. Users also cannot easily find their friends from other networks, although some independent tools are available.

Bluesky still lacks certain features present on X, such as sports news from popular accounts, an alert button, and a draft function. There is also no ‘views’ counter like on X. Furthermore, there have been glitches such as bright flashing images while scrolling through the ’likes’ section.

Despite these issues, Bluesky continues to evolve, attracting users who are either dissatisfied with X or seeking a new social media experience.