Everything you need to know before creating an account on the BlueSky social media platform

The Bluesky platform returned to the forefront and attracted millions of users in record time as an alternative to the "X" platform with amazing features. Here are More than 6 things you should know about it.

Things to know before creating your BlueSky account

The search for new alternatives to the "X" platform seems never-ending, especially with the rise of platforms like Mastodon and Threads, launched by Meta last year. Among these promising options, Bluesky has returned to the spotlight, garnering significant attention from social media users.

What Is Bluesky?

Bluesky was founded in 2019 with the aim of reimagining how social networks operate. The platform seeks to give users greater control over their data and digital experiences, making it more independent compared to traditional social platforms. Initially available by invitation only, the platform saw a major shift in February 2024 when it opened its doors more broadly, leading to a massive surge of 800,000 users joining in a single day.

The Story Behind Bluesky's Foundation: Beginnings and Transformation

Before diving into the key features and advantages of Bluesky, it’s essential to understand its origins. In 2019, Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, launched the Bluesky project as an initiative to create a decentralized social network. The project aimed to empower users with full control over their data and content management through a technology known as the "Authenticated Transfer Protocol" (AT Protocol).

When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, all legal and financial ties between Twitter and Bluesky were severed, prompting the Bluesky team to accelerate the development of a fully independent application.

In February 2023, the beta version of the platform was launched. A year later, it became publicly available, attracting approximately 3 million users during that time. According to a report by Forbes, Bluesky has since grown to host nearly 18 million users, making it one of the fastest-growing digital platforms today.

What Makes Bluesky Different?

1. Greater User Control: The platform enables users to manage their data independently, thanks to an open-source infrastructure known as the "AT Protocol".
2. Ease of Use: A simple and intuitive interface resembling the design of "X," making the transition seamless.
3. Data Independence: Aims to eliminate corporate monopolies over user data.

As debates around privacy and data control continue, Bluesky seems well-positioned to become a prominent social platform in the future. If you’re looking for a more transparent and independent social networking experience, Bluesky might just be the perfect choice for you.

The platform is growing exponentially

The Bluesky platform has seen and continues to experience rapid growth, with over a million new users joining after the recent 2024 U.S. elections. As mentioned, the platform now has more than 18 million users. Additionally, it holds a prominent position in the rankings on both the Google Play Store and the App Store, surpassing popular apps like Threads, ChatGPT, and even TikTok! This rapid growth is expected to continue for some time, ensuring that you'll find plenty of content when you join the platform.

Why Is Bluesky Gaining Momentum Now?

The platform’s resurgence coincides with recent political events in the United States, particularly Donald Trump’s success in the latest U.S. elections. According to a report by the BBC, Elon Musk's support for Trump prompted many users to seek a more neutral alternative. This is where Bluesky emerged as a promising option, offering a user experience similar to "X" in terms of design and functionality, which attracted dissatisfied users.

Different algorithms in the Bluesky platform

If you're dissatisfied with the content displayed to you on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or X, transitioning to Bluesky might be the perfect solution. This platform stands out with its decentralized algorithms, similar to Mastodon, meaning that content is not forcibly pushed to you. In Bluesky, posts gain priority based on real user interaction; the more likes or "Re-skeets" (the equivalent of "Retweets") a post gets, the higher its chances of appearing. This feature enhances content credibility and puts control over what you see in your hands, rather than being dictated by algorithms.

Features of Feeds, Lists, and Starter Packs

Bluesky allows users to choose the content they want to view thanks to its algorithms and the "Feeds" feature. You can have multiple homepages on the same account, each dedicated to specific content of your choice. For example, you could have one page for scientific discussions, another for sports content, and a third for technology-related posts, and so on. The "Lists" feature lets you create lists of certain people or topics you follow (like news sources). You can also use this feature to block specific content or share your lists with others to help them discover new accounts to follow. This helps you personalize your experience and organize the content you consume.

As for the "Starter Packs" feature, it has been available since June 2024. It consists of a curated group of users and main content (Feed), designed to help new members quickly and easily follow accounts and topics that interest them.

"Nuclear Block" Feature on Bluesky

The block feature on Bluesky is called the "Nuclear Block" because it completely erases any connection between you and the person you block. If you block someone on this platform, they will never be able to see your posts again, even if they had previously quoted one of them. Additionally, this blocking feature allows you to remove any mentions or "tags" of you in conversations or posts that others have quoted.

Different Verification Method

Bluesky uses a different verification method for accounts. Unlike the traditional blue checkmark and verification methods on other platforms, you can enhance your credibility and set yourself apart by using a unique domain, similar to having a personal website. When you create an account on the platform, you get a username ending in ".bsky.social," and if your account is verified, you can change this domain to something that distinguishes you, such as "borsippa.com"

Ad-Free Revenue Model and Impressive Privacy

The Bluesky platform does not rely on ads as a source of income, meaning it does not track or sell your personal data to advertisers, and there are no intrusive ads disrupting your user experience. Instead, Bluesky offers a paid subscription model with special features, such as high-quality video uploads and profile customization. However, it’s important to note that this subscription does not give you any advantage in terms of post visibility or account verification. If you're interested in earning from the platform, Bluesky supports creators and takes only a small percentage of the earnings.

Regarding privacy, Bluesky, as a decentralized platform, allows users to create and manage their own data servers instead of relying on a single central server. This gives you full control over your data, allowing you to decide how it's used and who can access it. If you're interested in the technical details, you can find more information on the platform's GitHub page.

Multiple Apps for the Platform

• You can download the official Bluesky app on Android from the Play Store or on iPhone from the App Store.

However, for iPad, there is no official app yet, but third-party apps like

•  "Skeets" 
• "Openvibe"

available to use the platform. If you're a fan of TweetDeck, you can also access Bluesky through the "Deck.blue" tool. You may encounter some performance issues, and this tool has limited functionality, but it still serves the purpose.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you're looking for a social media platform that is secure, with well-regulated algorithms, a privacy-respecting experience, and free from ads, Bluesky is the perfect choice. So far, the platform looks very promising, but will it maintain this momentum? Maybe, or it might turn into something similar to Threads. Only time will tell.

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