What is Bluesky? Why is Bluesky becoming a popular social networking platform?

In today’s digital age, various new and emerging social media applications are constantly appearing. Among many platforms, Bluesky stands out with its unique philosophy and innovative features, attracting an increasing number of user attention.

What is Bluesky?

Bluesky is a decentralized social networking project initiated by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. It is based on an open social networking protocol called ActivityPub, aiming to create a more open, transparent, and user-owned social networking ecosystem. Unlike traditional centralized social media platforms, Bluesky’s design philosophy centers around decentralization and user data ownership.

On Bluesky, users can publish and consume content, establish social connections, but all of this is built on ActivityPub protocol, which allows different social services to interconnect and interact. This means that Bluesky users can interact with users on other ActivityPub-based services (if they exist and are compatible), breaking down the barriers of a single platform.

Decentralized Social Networking

Overview: Decentralization refers to the control and governance not being concentrated in a single entity or server, but rather distributed across multiple independent nodes.

In the context of social networks, this means that no single company owns all user data and content, nor is there a single entry or exit point. This structure enhances the system’s resistance to censorship and single points of failure.

How does Bluesky achieve decentralization?

Bluesky implements its decentralization through the use of the ActivityPub protocol. In this system, there is not just one central server to store all data or handle all communications. Instead, the network consists of many independently operated servers (referred to as “Relays” or “Guardians”). When a user publishes a message (known as an “Activity” in ActivityPub), this activity is sent to the user’s associated Guardian, which may also be replicated to other Guardians in the network for discovery.

Bluesky: User-controlled content management

In Bluesky’s design, users have greater control over the content they publish. Since content is distributed across multiple nodes in the network, users can switch to any supporting ActivityPub-compatible Guardian service, while still being able to access their content from other Guardians without being entirely dependent on a single platform.

Additionally, the principles of ActivityPub encourage users to maintain and control their personal data, allowing for more freedom in choosing who to share what content with.

However, Bluesky may also have its own algorithms (for example, determining who sees your posts), but the ActivityPub protocol itself emphasizes transparency and is based on rules (rather than opaque algorithms). The unique characteristics of decentralization also provide users and independent developers with greater potential for creating and operating their own content distribution and recommendation systems, reducing reliance on a few major players, which could lead to less content moderation bias and a more authentic social experience.

How does Bluesky differ from Facebook and X?

Bluesky, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter) are three distinct social media platforms, with Bluesky focusing on decentralization and open standards, while Facebook and X are traditional centralized social media platforms that offer rich features and user interactions.

• Facebook: The largest social media platform globally, providing a social networking service for users to share information and interact. All user data and content are stored on Facebook’s servers. In addition to basic social networking features, Facebook also offers groups, marketplaces, live streaming, gaming, and many other functionalities.
• X: Primarily focused on short-form content (tweets), real-time engagement, allowing users to quickly receive and publish news, opinions, and real-time events updates. All content and user data are stored on its servers.
• Bluesky: Aiming to create a more open and decentralized social networking platform, users can manage content across different services, thus reducing reliance on a single platform. Users can choose their own service providers.

What social interaction features does Bluesky offer?

Bluesky provides a rich variety of content publishing and interaction methods, aiming to meet the personalized needs of users.

• Text, images, videos, etc.: Users can publish text posts on Bluesky, similar to tweets on Twitter. More engaging is that Bluesky supports richer media content, including direct embedding and viewing images within posts.
• Comments, likes, shares, etc.: Basic social interaction elements such as comments (often referred to as “replies” or “Conversations” threads), expressing “likes” (similar to hearts) and sharing (reposting others’ posts to your timeline) are already implemented. These features foster connections and discussions among users.
• Privacy and security: From the initial design, Bluesky has prioritized privacy and security.
  • Data protection measures: Based on the ActivityPub design, it helps distribute data risks, reducing the likelihood of being entirely controlled by a single company.
  • User privacy settings: Bluesky offers dynamic privacy settings options. Users can control who can see their posts (public, followers only, only themselves, etc.), who can connect with them, and who can see their follower list, etc.

Common issues when using Bluesky

Unable to connect to the service?

If you encounter issues logging in or using the Bluesky app but find that you cannot connect to the service, possible reasons include:

1. Network connection issues: The most common reason is that the current network environment (such as weak Wi-Fi signal or slow mobile data speed) is unstable. Please check and confirm that your network connection is normal.
2. Server maintenance or downtime: Bluesky’s infrastructure (composed of multiple Guardians) may be undergoing maintenance, or the server may be experiencing high traffic, leading to temporary unavailability.
3. Device issues: The version of the Bluesky app you are using may have compatibility issues with the current operating system version of your Android device or other devices. Try restarting the app, restarting your device, or checking for any new app updates.
4. Regional restrictions or configurations: In some regions, access to specific Guardian nodes may be restricted. The Bluesky app may allow users to attempt connections to different Guardians, and if the current default is not usable, you can try switching.
5. Account status: If you are unable to log in to your account, please check whether your account has been temporarily suspended due to security reasons.

How to download and install the Bluesky app?

Currently, the official Bluesky app is not available for direct download from the Google Play Store or other official app distribution platforms. Therefore, users need to download the official .apk installation package through the official channels or other tools.

1. Visit the official website: Obtain the download link through Bluesky’s official website (bluesky.com). This is the safest method.
2. Search for the download link: On the official site, look for the clear “Download” or “Get the App” button, ensuring it points to the Android version of the download.
3. Enable unknown sources installation permissions: On your Android device, go to “Settings” > “Security” or “Privacy” settings, find and enable the option “Allow installation from unknown sources.” Important Note: This is a security risk, please ensure you only download from trusted sources (like Bluesky’s official site) and close this permission after installation.
4. Download and install: Click on the download link on the official site, wait for the .apk file to finish downloading. Once you find the downloaded file, click on it, and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
5. Launch the app: After successful installation, open the Bluesky app, and proceed to register or log in based on the prompts.

In addition to the official channels, users can also use APK tools to directly download the Bluesky apk file, but during the download, it is necessary to carefully select reliable websites, such as APKPure, Uptodown, etc.

Bluesky is a new and emerging social networking platform where users can not only enjoy a safer social networking environment but also participate in a more open and content-rich community. Whether you are a deep engagement user or just looking to expand your social circle, Bluesky is a thoughtful choice.