Bluesky hits 2 million users in two months, set to launch a public web interface by month-end for improved accessibility. The platform's decentralized model will further expand with federation capabilities in early 2024, offering users the flexibility to choose providers.
Achieving a New Milestone
Bluesky has achieved a milestone of 2 million users within two months of reaching the 1 million mark. The Verge reported that the decentralized platform is also preparing to introduce a public web interface, addressing the challenge of restricting non-signed-in users from viewing post links.
The anticipated public interface is scheduled for launch by the end of this month, as revealed in the company's blog post. To enhance accessibility and decentralization, Bluesky plans to open federation capabilities in early 2024.
While Bluesky operates on the AT Protocol, providing a technically decentralized structure, its current invite-only model requires users to register. The upcoming federated network will enable users to post through various providers, diverging from the conventional central platform approach seen in major social media companies.
Inclusive Social Network
Federation is a pivotal feature setting Bluesky apart from X, positioning it as a more inclusive social network. Drawing inspiration from platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky's federation enables users to select and switch between servers at their discretion.
This distinctive feature is emphasized as making Bluesky "billionaire-proof," taking a subtle dig at Elon Musk's ownership of Twitter, now rebranded as X. The company emphasizes that users will consistently have the autonomy to choose or exit, steering clear of the influence of private companies or enigmatic algorithms.
Bluesky envisions a space where users can seamlessly carry their friendships and relationships, emphasizing the resilience of its platform. Much like the decentralized Mastodon service, Bluesky envisions a federation that enables users to operate their own services and seamlessly connect to others utilizing the same protocol.
In Bluesky's case, this involves the development of the AT Protocol, running alongside its consumer-focused service and mobile app. In contrast, Mastodon relies on the well-established ActivityPub protocol, which has increased in popularity since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter.
Following Musk's move, companies such as Mozilla, Flipboard, Medium, and Automattic (WordPress.com's parent) have adopted ActivityPub and integrated with Mastodon.
This trend may present a challenge to Bluesky's potential reach unless it considers facilitating interoperability between the AT Protocol and ActivityPub. While technically feasible, this integration might be a development for the future rather than an immediate prospect.
This move aims to make Bluesky posts viewable to anyone, even without an account, potentially positioning the network as a formidable competitor to X for real-time news and discussions.
However, this openness raises concerns about the exposure of Bluesky users' posts to the wider online community, as the platform currently lacks a "private" profile setting akin to Twitter/X, a point of discontent for some users.
While Bluesky has experienced growth, TechCrunch reported that its continued reliance on an invite-only approach has allowed other competitors in the X space to gain traction.
Recently, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed his X alternative, Instagram Threads, boasting nearly 100 million monthly active users. Zuckerberg envisions its user base reaching a billion in the coming years, with Threads planning future interoperability with ActivityPub.
