The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

What is Bluesky and how's it different to Twitter?

  • Written by Nataliya Ilyushina, Research Fellow, RMIT University
What is Bluesky and how's it different to Twitter?

Amid management changes at Twitter, discontented users are exploring an alternative social media platform called Bluesky. According to media reports[1], downloads of the Bluesky app surged more than 600% in April.

Initially conceived by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in 2019 as a complementary project aimed to improve Twitter user experience, Bluesky transitioned into a standalone project in early 2022[2], and its iOS app was released in February this year[3] followed by an Android version in April[4].

Visually, Bluesky looks similar to Twitter. The timeline is called the “skyline” and tweets are “skeets”. It has two main differences that drive its popularity – decentralisation and invite-only access.

Decentralisation was a driving force behind Dorsey’s creation of Bluesky. So what does that mean and how’s this app different to Twitter?

Read more: What is Mastodon, the 'Twitter alternative' people are flocking to? Here's everything you need to know[5]

‘Decentralised’ social media

Dorsey is a big proponent of decentralised control and cryptocurrency. He believes centralised platforms like Twitter cannot address issues such as enforcement of policies to address abuse and misinformation, and the proprietary algorithms are not meeting user needs.

Twitter uses an AI-powered, centrally managed algorithm to moderate what content the user is exposed to.

On Bluesky, however, users have control over the algorithm that selects what they are exposed to. As Wired magazine explained[6]:

Crucially, users and servers will be able to label posts or specific users - e.g., with a tag like “racist” — and anyone can subscribe to that list of labels, blocking posts on that basis.

Bluesky calls[7] this concept a “composable, customizable marketplace of algorithms that lets you take control of how you spend your attention.”

In addition to giving users more control over what kind of content they see, Bluesky has plans to “decentralise” control of social media even further. If all goes well, Bluesky itself will just be the first of many interconnected social networks running on the same basic principles.

Bluesky is based on what it calls the AT protocol[8], a network that allows servers to communicate with each other. This means that, hypothetically, you could move your account[9] between different social networks that also use the AT protocol without losing your content and followers.

It’s worth noting this is all a bit theoretical for now; this functionality can’t be used yet.

But it is designed to eventually address the concerns[10] of social media influencers who fear losing their audience due to platform rule changes or when choosing to move to a different platform.

Invite-only

Another distinguishing factor of Bluesky is that, for now anyway, it is invitation-only.

Most social media platforms, including Twitter, allow users to register freely. Bluesky, however, requires an invitation code. Existing users receive invitation codes fortnightly.

Despite at least 360,000 Bluesky app downloads[11], it’s been reported[12] there are only 70,000 users. Media reported earlier this month there were a staggering 1.9 million people[13] on the waitlist.

With so many people curious to get in, the Bluesky invites became a hot commodity. You can find them on eBay between A$50 and $200; some listings were asking much more.

The invitation-only design ensures steady user growth, avoiding a rapid influx of users followed by a sudden loss of interest.

And potential new users who patiently wait for an invitation are already familiar with Bluesky. Flooding other social media platforms with requests for invitation codes creates extra interest[14], too.

Every new Bluesky user knows at least one existing user. It ensures users have something in common to post about.

It would seem Bluesky’s creators aimed to selectively bring in like-minded individuals from the start, rather than attempting to retrospectively eliminate problematic users.

Thanks to a great deal of user control over the content they see, and a small and selective user base so far, many report they’ve found[15] a friendly atmosphere and good vibes[16] on Bluesky.

Others say[17] it feels almost like a group chat. Bluesky has particularly resonated with marginalised communities, especially transgender people[18], who may feel safer there expressing themselves than on other social media sites.

Many Twitter users have flocked to Bluesky. Shutterstock

But will any of this last?

As we’ve all seen, social media sites come and go.

Social media site Mastodon experienced explosive user growth in November last year, reaching 2.6 million[19] users within weeks, only to decline to 1.2 million[20] within a couple of months.

Decentralised moderation challenges[21] on Mastodon have resulted in what some[22] users[23] have described[24] as a “stuffy” culture. This, coupled with the complicated interface and the hard to grasp concept[25] of “belonging” to a server, may have affected its chance of lasting success.

Unlike Mastodon, Bluesky has a simple and straightforward interface. To remain relevant in the long term, Bluesky must strike a delicate balance between curbing hate speech and trolls while maintaining engaging content and discussions. All while being more captivating than your inner-circle group chats.

References

  1. ^ reports (www.thewrap.com)
  2. ^ early 2022 (fortune.com)
  3. ^ this year (www.theguardian.com)
  4. ^ April (www.theverge.com)
  5. ^ What is Mastodon, the 'Twitter alternative' people are flocking to? Here's everything you need to know (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ explained (www.wired.com)
  7. ^ calls (twitter.com)
  8. ^ AT protocol (twitter.com)
  9. ^ move your account (blueskyweb.xyz)
  10. ^ concerns (blueskyweb.xyz)
  11. ^ downloads (abcnews.go.com)
  12. ^ reported (www.theguardian.com)
  13. ^ 1.9 million people (www.businessinsider.com)
  14. ^ invitation codes creates extra interest (www.theguardian.com)
  15. ^ found (www.vox.com)
  16. ^ vibes (www.abc.net.au)
  17. ^ say (www.nytimes.com)
  18. ^ transgender people (www.nbcnews.com)
  19. ^ 2.6 million (fortune.com)
  20. ^ 1.2 million (www.theguardian.com)
  21. ^ challenges (www.webpurify.com)
  22. ^ some (www.reddit.com)
  23. ^ users (twitter.com)
  24. ^ described (twitter.com)
  25. ^ concept (www.cnet.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/what-is-bluesky-and-hows-it-different-to-twitter-205995

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...