Bluesky, the alternative to Twitter created by Jack Dorsey, is now available on Android devices by invitation only, according to a report by The Verge. The app first arrived on the App Store in February and is currently in beta, with a limited number of users (around 25,000) and some features missing, such as direct messages. However, it does have many Twitter-like functions, including the ability to follow other users, search for content and create posts with photos.
Bluesky was originally developed in 2019 as a new type of decentralized standard for social media platforms, backed by Twitter. It officially broke off from Twitter in 2021 and has since become one of the many upstart Twitter clones, like Mastodon, that have emerged following Elon Musk’s takeover.
The app’s main objective is to allow users to decide how they want to consume and see social media. According to CEO Jay Graber, “For developers, an open marketplace of algorithms will provide the freedom to experiment with and publish algorithms that anyone can use… For users, the ability to customize their feed will give them back control of their most valuable resource: their attention.”
Moderation is reportedly one of the last challenges to solve before the app opens to the public, with Graber emphasizing the importance of user safety from the start. The app will use a combination of automated filtering and server-level moderation controlled by admins. In addition, users will be able to subscribe to additional sets of moderation labels to filter out more content or accounts.
Bluesky’s arrival on Android marks another milestone for the app’s development and is a significant step in creating a more open and decentralized social media platform. However, it remains to be seen how successful the app will be in attracting a wider user base and how it will differentiate itself from other similar apps.
