Bluesky, a new social platform, has opened its digital doors to everyone after launching initially as an invitation-only service. The platform, which boasts 3 million users, was first rolled out for iOS and Android users at the start of 2023 and has been positioned as a competitor to the social network formerly known as Twitter, which found new ownership under Elon Musk in 2022.
The Bluesky app, now accessible without an invite, allows individuals to sign up through a simple registration process. Evangelizing its mission to build an open social network that encourages community input while striving for a smooth user experience, Bluesky has recently announced that they’ve developed the platform to a point where they feel confident in opening up to a broader audience.
While Bluesky is fully functional, it’s important for users to be aware of ongoing developments. For instance, enhancements such as two-factor authentication are still pending, and an advanced moderation and tagging system to help users tailor their content preferences is slated for release shortly.
Bluesky’s user interface might remind people of the original social network, which should come as no surprise considering Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, is a member of Bluesky’s board of directors. Despite this similarity, Bluesky differentiates itself by embracing a decentralized network structure similar to Mastodon. But, rather than using the ActivityPub protocol like Mastodon, Bluesky has developed its own open-source standard called the AT protocol.
Anyone interested in exploring this new alternative to traditional social media platforms can now download the Bluesky app for iOS and Android devices. Desktop users can also access Bluesky through their web browser, further diversifying the ways in which users can engage with this burgeoning network.
