Twitter (X) vs. BlueSky: Why New Doesn't Always Mean Better
In recent months, Elon Musk has faced various challenges. While allegations of anti-Semitism on his platform and debates about the DSA (Digital Service Act) were ongoing, there were also a critical take of Elon about German sea rescue operations in Italy, which angered the German Foreign Office.
In response to Musk's actions and Twitter (X) , many politically left-leaning users, predominantly Germans, especially those who already had reservations about him, switched to an alternative service called BlueSky.
This service was originally launched by Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey, with Jay Graber currently serving as CEO.
Currently, an invitation code is required to access BlueSky, which users distribute for free on Twitter / X and Reddit. It's important to emphasize that you should "never" buy invitation codes as they are often overpriced and there are risks of fraud.
Every two weeks, existing BlueSky users receive a free invitation code to share with someone else.
After receiving the invitation code and choosing a username (many use their old Twitter / X handle), you are taken directly to the platform and can set your Profile. At first glance, it reminds you of the early days of Twitter.
You can immediately post your first "Skeet" (as it's called on BlueSky, even though the founder of BlueSky doesn't recommend this term).
However, after some time of use, you realize that the platform lacks several features:
Absence of Hashtags: The platform does not support the use of hashtags, which can be crucial for categorizing content and improving discoverability.
Lack of Video Embedding: Users cannot directly embed videos within their posts, limiting the multimedia experience.
No Translations: The platform does not offer automatic translations, making it less accessible to a global audience.
No Direct Messaging (DMs): There's no feature for direct messaging between users, hindering private communication.
BlueSky itself is based on a decentralized system like Mastodon, which makes it resilient to outages even with a large number of users, but it can result in slower performance with many users.
An interesting feature of BlueSky is the ability to register your own domain as a handle instead of the standard @userx.bsky.social. More technical details can be found at https://blueskyweb.xyz/blog/4-28-2023-domain-handle-tutorial.
With this measure, you essentially confirm your own identity, as the domain typically belongs to you.
Many who found Twitter / X too conservative have migrated to BlueSky and have already created their own blocklists, which can be found here: https://bsky.thieflord.dev/fun_facts
Jordan Peterson is already high-ranking on this list, so you can gauge the direction the platform is taking... no conservative opinions.
You are essentially in your own political bubble. It could even be argued that BlueSky is the left-wing counterpart to TruthSocial.
Is it worth making the switch?
No, cause BlueSky can't compete with the range of features offered by X and there is no scheduled date for when they will be implemented.
Furthermore, as of the time of writing, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has stated on Twitter / X that much has been done to combat antisemitism, and they are once again collaborating with X and pushing out advertising on it.
In conclusion, while platforms like Mastodon, Threads, and BlueSky offer alternatives, it's essential for society to have platforms that cater to diverse political views. Echo chambers don't foster productive conversations.