When it comes to bluesky social media, we're in the early days. And that's just fine. For now, it's a weird mix of serious people and Very Online ones sharing ideas and inanities. It feels like the back room at a house party where the cool kids and misfits hang out away from the rowdy rager in front.
But there's one big thing that will decide whether Bluesky actually succeeds at being a Twitter alternative: moderation. That's because if the app is going to stay the "fantastic vibe" of Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, actor Kumail Nanjiani, and recording artist Grimes—who is also Elon Musk's ex-girlfriend—it will need to keep users safe from trolls, harassment, and abuse.
Those kinds of problems are exactly why so many are interested in the app, which has attracted celebrities and other well-known people who feel harassed on Twitter and have been frustrated by the platform's recent changes. It's also been praised by people who are tired of the way that Twitter and other social media platforms have been treating high-profile people—especially women—as lesser citizens.
So far, the app has more than 70,000 registered users—a fraction of Twitter's 360 million—despite being in closed beta and only available to people who get invited by someone else. And it's gotten so much buzz that https://bluesky-social.org even some tech CEOs are eager to join to avoid the troll storms of Twitter and other networks. That's because Bluesky is, in a way, the first Twitter alternative that can be trusted to keep its promise of being more respectful and less troll-prone.
What makes Bluesky different is its decentralized design, which means it wants to be a platform that allows other apps to build on top of it. That could eventually mean apps that create social media feeds tailored to specific interests, like a news-heavy one or a cat meme-centric feed.
Right now, the main Bluesky app looks a lot like early Twitter, with a chronological timeline and an options menu that includes the ability to reply, repost, or quote other users. And there's a sidebar with quick access to your profile and app settings.
But the main difference is that Bluesky's user interface—along with its rules and other features—is still evolving. And if it's not careful, it could end up looking and feeling more like an unfinished Twitter clone rather than a new and promising network. That's why it needs to figure out how to prevent trolls from taking over—and to help people who want to move on from Twitter without losing their followers. Then it will have a real shot at being the next great platform.
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