Apple's App Store now offers Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform connected to Twitter's previous leadership before Elon Musk.
In 2019, Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, initially disclosed the Bluesky initiative. Jay Graber, a previous Zcash contributor, became the project's CEO in 2021. To know more about this twitter-adjacent app, continue reading.
Twitter-adjacent Bluesky App
Despite being available to everyone, Bluesky is currently in private beta and requires an invite code to use. Graber may still have extra invite codes available to anyone who contact her, according to recent statements she has made.
The app is not available on Android or the web.
Bluesky doesn't use blockchain technology to store data or have any features linked to cryptocurrencies. Yet, the platform makes use of the AT Protocol, a federated network that employs cryptography to store data independently. This strategy makes it comparable to blockchain technology and enables data self-ownership. It is worth highlighting that it is relatively simple to include cryptocurrency with the type of cryptography that the AT Protocol uses.
Relationship with Twitter
Bluesky might be showing up at a good time. Some users have left Twitter in favor of decentralized rivals like the federated network Mastodon due to Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform. That tendency, though, might be waning. Although it gained the majority of its users during the Twitter exodus, Mastodon witnessed its user count drop from 2.5 million to 1.4 million in January, which is concerning for Bluesky's rival offering.
In recent months, several other decentralized and blockchain social networks have also increased. Emurgo debuted its Cardano-focused network Spot on February 16, while Nostr launched Damus on February 1. Around the middle of 2022, Lens Protocol, which connected to Aave, went active.