Bluesky (Bsky) is a microblogging, social networking service that started out as a Twitter research initiative,¹⁾²⁾ appointed to Jay Graber³⁾ as it went independent, then they began their invite-only beta on April 12, 2023⁴⁾ before the platform finally went public on February 6, 2024.⁵⁾⁶⁾

It is run by a benefit corporation,⁷⁾ that is reliant on seed funding,⁸⁾⁹⁾ and plans to expand its AT Protocol that would 'decentralize' the way people interact with social platforms.¹⁰⁾¹¹⁾ For now, there's just a deluge of complaints towards staff.¹²⁾

The service revolves around short-form posts, which users attach media and content warnings to, and has a significant focus on 'feeds' and filtering options. As usual, users can like posts, share posts, leave a reply if willing, and follow or unfollow accounts to change their timeline. Of course, the website is still relatively new, so it still has a lot of room for improvement, but a less intrusive subscription service is planned.¹³⁾¹⁴⁾

• Go to Moderation and toggle the 'content filters' if you would like to see adult content.
  • Go to the Bluesky Moderation Service and feel free to toggle content that you don't mind being exposed to. This includes the 'Sexually Suggestive (Cartoon)' label, by the way.
• Go to Language Settings and clear out the 'content languages' to see posts in any language.
• When uploading media, a 'label' button that allows you to attach the appropriate content warnings will appear. Otherwise, users may choose to report the post so it can be labeled properly.¹⁵⁾
• For some reason, Bluesky might spit out 'invalid handle' errors, so check if their servers are down before overreacting. These errors don't last long, unless you have a custom domain handle.¹⁶⁾
• If you're dealing with the age gate, there are workarounds.

• Sky Follower Bridge [@sky-follower-bridge.dev‬]
  A tool for finding Bluesky accounts of users on Instagram, Twitter, etc. May return false positives.

• Boost Blue [@boostblue.bsky.social]
  If you want an iOS/Android client that's extremely similar to Twitter, try this one.
• Graysky [@graysky.app]
  One of the earliest iOS/Android client. Personally, I am not a fan of the 'feeds first' thing.
• Klearsky [@mimonelu.net]
  One of the alternative web clients. Might feel bloated to some.
• Skeets [@skeetsapp.com]
  If you want an iOS client that's somewhat similar to Twitter, try this one.
• Tokimeki [@tokimeki.blue]
  Highly customizable Android client and web client.
• Ucho-ten [@ucho-ten.net]
  Technically, a web client and an iOS/Android client. Too modern, if you get what I mean.

• I made a Bluesky account during the invite-only beta on October 18, 2023, user #1586918.
• On the Twitter–Bluesky relationship, it should be noted that Twitter only held this vague 'advisory seat', and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey¹⁷⁾ would abandon Bluesky¹⁸⁾ to praise Nostr.¹⁹⁾
• Every user's blocklist is 'technically public'²⁰⁾ as a way to make sure that users aren't able to see each other across the network,²¹⁾ though it comes at the obvious downside of airing everybody's dirty laundry and there are a number of ways to circumvent this (e.g. making a new account).
• Before going public, Bluesky started migrating accounts to 'personal data servers' in November 2023,²²⁾ then changed their logo from a literal blue sky to a social butterfly on December 21, 2023.²³⁾
• There were a number of significant migration patterns to Bluesky as the platform went public in 2024:
  • As the platform went public, there was a significant Japanese contingent when it first began.
  • Brazilian president Lula joined on April 12, 2024,²⁴⁾²⁵⁾ then Brazil blocked Twitter for a month since Twitter refused to remove accounts associated with a failed far-right coup.
  • In late 2024, Bluesky started to gain momentum, as Twitter changed how its blocks worked^26)27)28) and there were concerns over a privacy policy update,²⁹⁾ which trickled³⁰⁾³¹⁾ into a huge boom.³²⁾ Unfortunately, the timing of the migration made it easy for churnalists to misconstrue the migrations as a political spectacle,^33)34)35) which is why conservatives are more hesitant about joining.
• In the Japanese language, Bluesky is 'BurūSukai' (ブルースカイ), and has the clipped compound of 'BuruSuka' (ブルスカ), but it has also been rendered as 'Aosora' (青空, lit. “blue sky”).

• Bluesky - The front page of Bluesky.
  • @bsky.app, @atproto.com on Bluesky - General updates and the developer team.
  • Bluesky Debug - The server status page. You can find all the host names here.
• Community Showcase - A collection of third-party clients and projects.
• Clearsky - A tool for finding out which Bluesky users blocks who. Just don't drown in the tea.
  • @clearsky.app on Bluesky