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This alternative to Elon Musk’s platform offers a chronological timeline, control over your data, and a troll-free environment. So, is it time to make the leap?
Let’s not beat around the bush: Twitter/X is not what it once was. Engagement rates have plummeted, users have departed in droves, and the platform’s essence has markedly changed. The erratic leadership at the helm has only exacerbated these issues, leaving many people disillusioned with social media as a whole.
So where’s the best place to turn? It’s difficult to say which of the multiple X alternatives, from Threads to Mastadon, you should put your faith in. But a fair number of you have been switching to BlueSky, which was launched in February 2023. We’re there too: you can find us at creativeboom.bsky.social.
So now, after a year and a half, how is BlueSky doing? Should you join it, and if so, how can you make the best of it? Read on to find out the answers to all these questions.
What is BlueSky?
First things first: What is BlueSky? In a nutshell, BlueSky is an alternative to Twitter/X that works in a very similar way. But there are two main differences.
One is that it’s not owned by Elon Musk, a man many people dislike for many different reasons. In contrast, BlueSky has been developed in close partnership with Jack Dorsey, the guy who originally created Twitter, but who left in 2022 to join BlueSky’s board of directors.
A second main difference is that BlueSky is decentralised. What does that mean in plain language? Well, on centralised platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X, a single company controls and owns all your data. In a decentralised system like BlueSky, you can choose which server or network instance you want to join or even run your own. In other words, you have more control over your data and what happens to it.
In this light, it’s worth moving to BlueSky if (a) you want something that works like X but isn’t owned by Elon Musk or (b) you don’t want unaccountable tech giants owning and controlling your content. If you fall into either of those categories (or both), read on to learn how BlueSky works in practice.
Key features of BlueSky
Getting down to the nitty-gritty, BlueSky offers a range of cool features that you won’t find on more mainstream social media platforms.
Firstly, it gives you a chronological timeline. That means you see content posted by the people you follow in chronological order. This is how Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter used to operate, and as far as we’re aware, literally no one asked for this to change. But change they did, and the vast majority of people miss the way things were. BlueSky allows you to reclaim the notion of a simple timeline, which could be the killer feature for many.
Another cool feature is the ability to create and join custom feeds tailored to specific interests. These essentially function like supercharged hashtags, making it easier to find the kind of content and communities that truly interest you.
Want friends from other social media platforms to join you on BlueSky? Well, of course you would. So BlueSky aims to help you out by allowing you to create personalised invites through ‘starter packs’. This makes it easier to bring friends directly into your specific corner of the platform and helps to engender a more cohesive community experience.
One of the issues with joining all these different social media platforms is avoiding confusing your audience. So, handily, BlueSky lets you personalise your handle with your own domain name, adding a unique touch to your profile.
Finally, BlueSky helps you stay safe by providing community-driven tools for blocking or muting content and accounts that upset or offend you. In my experience, there’s not really much use for them at the moment, because BlueSky is still pretty free of trolls and troublemakers, but it’s good to know they’re available in case you ever need them.
Getting started on BlueSky
Setting up your BlueSky account is a straightforward process. Begin by visiting bsky.app or downloading the BlueSky mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Then click on ‘Sign Up’ and fill in your details, including name, handle, email address and password.
After completing the captcha challenge to finalise your account setup, follow the prompts to set up your profile picture, bio and other basic information. Finally, select your interests to help BlueSky surface relevant content as you navigate the platform.
To make the most of your BlueSky experience, start by crafting a compelling bio that succinctly explains who you are, what you do, and why you’re on BlueSky. It’s normally best (and easiest) to use the same profile picture and display name as your other social media accounts. And then, just like on any other social media platform, engage actively with other users to fine-tune your feed and increase your visibility on the platform.
Content strategies for BlueSky
Those are the nuts and bolts of using BlueSky. But once you’re set up, just like with other social platforms, it can be tricky to know what kind of content to post.
If you’re unsure how to start, kick things off with an introduction post to let the BlueSky community know who you are and what you’re about. And then do all the things you’ve probably already been doing on Twitter/X. For example…
Share insights from your professional life that add value to your followers’ feeds.
Discuss current trends or news relevant to your field of expertise.
Offer behind-the-scenes glimpses into your work process or daily routine.
Engage your audience by asking for opinions or conducting polls.
Provide practical tips, how-tos, or life hacks related to your area of knowledge.
Celebrate milestones or achievements to build a connection with your audience
Share reviews or thoughts on books, movies, products, or services you enjoy.
Don’t hesitate to repurpose content from your other social media platforms, adapting it to fit BlueSky’s unique environment. We’re all on so many platforms these days that no one will be expecting content that’s exclusive to BlueSky!
Building your community on BlueSky
Once you’ve started posting and getting a feel for BlueSky, it’s time to fully leverage its capabilities. Explore and join custom feeds that align with your interests; this should help you discover like-minded users and relevant discussions. Then, maybe experiment with creating your own custom feeds to establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche and attract followers with similar interests.
Make the most of BlueSky’s advanced search features to find specific content or users. You can search for phrases, hashtags, or mentions using quotation marks and specific keywords. Take advantage of the chronological timeline to stay up-to-date with real-time conversations and breaking news. Use community-driven moderation tools to curate a positive and relevant experience on the platform.
Over time, growing your presence on BlueSky requires a thoughtful approach: trolling and shock value won’t work as well here as on X. Instead, actively engage with other users’ content by liking, commenting, and reposting. Participate in community events or hashtag challenges to increase your visibility. Use relevant hashtags to make your content more discoverable, but avoid overusing them.
Finally, you’ll want to measure whether all of this activity is worth it. While BlueSky doesn’t currently offer built-in analytics tools, you can gauge your success by monitoring the growth of your follower count over time and tracking engagement rates on your posts (likes, comments, reposts).
The future of BlueSky
It’s impossible to predict the future of social media. But right now, all the signs are that BlueSky will continue to grow steadily and improve.
As that happens, I’d expect enhanced features and tools to arrive as this open platform responds to user feedback and needs. There’s huge potential for integration with other decentralised platforms, which, if it happens, will increase the network’s reach and capabilities. Better analytics and insights tools will hopefully arrive soon, too, along with more sophisticated customisation options for feeds and user interfaces.
Or maybe none of that will happen. Maybe BlueSky will change ownership and go in a different direction. Maybe it’ll crash and burn or simply wither away due to lack of interest. But hopefully, this little-talked-about platform will slowly and quietly continue to grow in a way that empowers rather than exploits its user base. Here’s hoping…
