The Latest Twitter Exodus Has Many Going To BlueSky. Here’s What I Like About It.
With recent changes at Twitter (X), the latest exodus has begun, with many flocking to BlueSky. It actually launched a couple of years ago, but it's feature set now rivals Twitter, and in fact, it's better. For one, it's super easy to properly block and mute users. It's also doesn't have an AI tool that is harvesting your posts.
Many users, including myself, have tweeted that we will be deleting our tweets and making our accounts private. This is now the only way to prevent those you have blocked (in my case 10.5K accounts) from seeing your tweets, even though they still can't interact with them.
The point of blocking is so those users can't see your posts, potentially going back decades, or interact with you. Even being able to see them can be a problem in terms of stalkers, etc.
Going forward, Twitter will be strictly a news feed for me, until BlueSky or something else reaches critical mass.
Here’s a breakdown of what BlueSky offers, why people are flocking to it, and a few things to keep in mind before diving in.
What is BlueSky?
BlueSky was born out of a project initiated by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, though he is no longer involved.
The goal was to create a decentralized social media platform—one that isn’t controlled by any single company or authority.
In contrast to giants like Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitter, where a centralized team, and even one particular billionaire, has full control over the platform's policies and content moderation, BlueSky is built on open protocols, giving users and developers more control over how the platform functions.
The idea is simple but revolutionary: instead of relying on a single company to manage a massive network of users, BlueSky gives power back to individuals and communities. Users can pick and choose their own experience, including how content is filtered and moderated, with the promise of fewer algorithmic interventions.
Finding Your People on BlueSky
Want to find your Twitter followers, and those you're following, on BlueSky? Check out the Sky Follower Bridge (Chrome extension)! It found 375 for me! The more of you who join, the more it'll find. 🙂
You go to your followers or following pages and run the tool. Not sure how it works, but you'll want to do this ASAP, because Twitter might block the ability at some point.
NOTE: You'll log into your BlueSky account for this extension to work it's magic. It requires a dedicated app password (not your account password), so set that up in your BlueSky settings beforehand.
Why People Are Excited About BlueSky
1. Decentralization Means More Control
The big draw is that BlueSky is decentralized, meaning users have a greater say in how the platform runs. You’re not at the mercy of a company’s changing policies, and developers can build their own custom features or apps on top of the BlueSky network. Imagine a social media feed that reflects your personal preferences, without worrying about what the platform thinks is “best” for you.
It's worth noting here that when you sign up for BlueSky, the default option is to join "bsky.social", which BlueSky itself operates, but they really emphasize that users control their own experiences. Users can install BlueSky on their own server to have ultimate control, but most regular users won't do that.
2. Privacy and Freedom
In the age of data breaches and aggressive advertising, BlueSky presents itself as a privacy-conscious alternative.
Being Open-Source, no single company controls the entire platform and how it's used, so there’s less incentive for intrusive data harvesting. BlueSky's ethos of freedom is refreshing for those who feel that traditional platforms have grown too controlling, especially with content moderation and data usage.
3. No Algorithms Dictating What You See
Remember the days when your social media feed showed posts in the order they were posted? BlueSky allows users to experience social media in this way again, without algorithms constantly rearranging content or pushing ads.
It's more organic and less overwhelming, allowing people to see posts from those they care about without the noise of targeted advertising or sponsored posts.
The Potential Downsides
Of course, BlueSky isn’t perfect, and users should be aware of a few points of concern.
1. Still in Its Early Stages, But Very Mature In It's Feature Set
BlueSky is a relatively new platform, and it’s still in the early phases of development, but it has been a couple of years now. This means it might not have the same polish or massive user base that you’ll find on platforms like Twitter or Facebook, but given the latest Twitter exodus, BlueSky is at 17M users and counting as of the second week of November. It genuinely feels like the inevitable old school Twitter replacement.
Threads has 150M users but is owned by Meta. Mastodon has 15M users but lacks appeal for many regular users and seems to have plateaued. To be clear, I love Mastodon, and 15M users is notable.
Some features of Bluesky might be a little rough around the edges, and as the platform evolves, you might encounter bugs or missing functionalities.
2. Content Moderation Challenges
While BlueSky's decentralized nature offers freedom, it also presents challenges—especially when it comes to content moderation. Without a centralized authority deciding what’s appropriate, harmful content can circulate unchecked. BlueSky does allow users to easily block or mute. Communities can set their own moderation standards, but managing this on a large scale might become tricky.
3. Competing in a Crowded Space
Let’s face it—many social media platforms are already vying for your attention. With big names like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok dominating the space, BlueSky will need to prove it offers something truly different to stand out, and I believe it does given the above points.
Deck.blue - A Powerful Alternative to Tweetdeck
Deck.blue is a solid third-party app for BlueSky users that enhances the social media experience by offering a multi-column dashboard, similar to TweetDeck. A lone developer currently maintains it, so please support his work on Patreon.
With this layout, you can monitor feeds side-by-side, like your main feed, mentions, or custom feeds. It supports real-time updates, so you can instantly see new posts and messages, making it perfect for staying engaged with fast-moving conversations.
The app is also highly customizable, letting you tailor your feeds to your preferences. You can manage notifications, mute or block users easily, and sync your settings across multiple devices, so whether you're on desktop or mobile, it feels seamless.
Designed with power users in mind, Deck.blue is great for anyone looking to manage their BlueSky presence better.
The web app is free, but you can add extra functionality if you support the development on Patreon, which I do. To get the additional features, you'll need to link the web app to your Patreon account in settings.
Skeets App and Push Notifications
Another third party app for Bluesky that I strongly recommend is Skeets (iOS and iPad). It is also maintained by a third party lone developer.
My favorite feature is the Push Notifications for user posts, likes, comments, and more. It is a subscription feature, but you have the option of monthly or yearly. It is absolutely worth it in my view.
Pro Tip: Enable Push Notifications on the notifications tab after you purchase the subscription.
In Summary
BlueSky is quickly becoming a go-to platform for those fed up with Twitter's current state (X).
Its decentralized design, better privacy controls, and no algorithms make it a breath of fresh air in social media.
While it’s still growing and ironing out some kinks, the user experience will now satisfy most in terms of customization and control.
BlueSky is becoming a serious contender as more users migrate, especially with tools like Deck.blue and Skeets enhancing its functionality. If you're ready for a social platform that puts you in charge, BlueSky is definitely worth exploring!
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