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Is the grass greener elsewhere? Hard to say — but the sky might just be bluer.
Since Elon Musk turned Twitter into X, users have been steadily checking out other digital neighborhoods. Many alternatives have come and gone (farewell Mastodon clones, Post, Pebble, and Spill), but Bluesky has managed to stick around — and grow. In fact, by February 2025, it crossed the 30 million user mark. While that’s still a fraction of Threads’ massive 275 million monthly actives, it’s a strong showing for an app that only recently opened to the public.
So, what makes Bluesky so appealing? Let’s break it down in plain English.
What Exactly Is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a decentralized social network that looks and feels a lot like the old Twitter, but with a twist: it’s built on an open-source system called the AT Protocol. This means its design and updates are transparent, and eventually, you’ll be able to move your account — followers and all — to other apps built on the same protocol.
It began as a side project in 2019 when Jack Dorsey was still CEO of Twitter. The original idea was that Twitter might adopt the tech itself. That never happened, and today Bluesky is fully independent, led by CEO Jay Graber. Dorsey has since stepped away from the board.
How to Use It?
Signing up is free. You’ll get a handle in the format @username.bsky.social (or you can use your own domain for extra flair) and a display name. Posting works just like X — short text updates, photos, likes, replies, and reposts — but Bluesky caps posts at 256 characters for now.
The app has algorithmic feeds, a “Discover” section for finding new people, and even Starter Packs that help new users follow curated accounts right away. You can pin “custom feeds” to the top of your app to see content tailored to your interests. And yes, DMs exist, though they’re one-on-one only for now.
Recently, Bluesky added vertical video and a dedicated video tab, hinting it’s ready to compete with TikTok-style content.
Who’s There?
You’ll find a mix of celebrities, politicians, journalists, and creators. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Cuban, Guillermo del Toro, Weird Al Yankovic, and Barack Obama are among the high-profile names. Major outlets like Bloomberg and The Washington Post have accounts, too.
Key Differences from X
Here’s what makes Bluesky stand out:
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No AI training on your posts — Bluesky says it won’t use your content to train AI, unlike X’s updated terms.
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Traditional block function — If you block someone, they can’t see or interact with your posts at all.
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Decentralized foundation — When federation fully launches, you’ll be able to switch to other AT Protocol-based platforms without losing your community.
How It Makes Money
Right now, Bluesky is ad-free. It’s exploring revenue through paid extras like custom domains and a subscription called Bluesky+ for perks such as better video uploads and more profile customization. It’s also funding developers who build apps and tools for the platform through a $1 million grant program called Skyseed.
Moderation and Safety
Like every social platform, Bluesky has faced its share of moderation challenges. It’s rolled out stronger content review tools, allowed independent moderation services through its Ozone feature, and increased its moderation staff as the user base grew. Still, some users are pushing for more controls, like the ability to make accounts private.
Is It Worth Joining?
If you’re tired of X’s changes, want more control over your feed, and like the idea of a social network you can take with you, Bluesky is worth a try. It’s not as big as Threads yet, but it’s carving out its own space with a loyal community and a focus on transparency.
And who knows — with the pace social media is shifting, the sky really might be the limit.
