Bluesky's New Media Social App Threatens Twitter's Popularity

Bluesky, the new social media app is a public concern. (photo: screenshot of bluesky)

JAKARTA - Bluesky, a new social media app is of public concern because it was developed by Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey. The app launched in closed beta in February on iOS and this month on Android.

Although it looks almost exactly the same as Twitter, Bluesky is significantly different in it. The app uses a decentralized network that gives users more control over how services run, data is stored, and content is moderated.

Bluesky calls itself a "new social network for microblogging". In this application, users can post and follow short updates on the timeline, as on Twitter, but with some differences. There are currently no hashtags and direct messages like on Twitter.

Bluesky was independent on Twitter when Dorsey served as CEO, but was funded by the company to become an independent organization in February 2022. Dorsey stated that he also plans to "build the surrounding open community, inclusive companies and organizations, researchers and civil society leaders," but warned that "this will not happen overnight."

Some of the same Twitter users who were dissatisfied with Twitter's new policy led by Elon Musk are now joining Bluesky.

Since Musk took over Twitter six months ago, he has made a number of controversial changes to platform features and policies, including removing blue ticks from famous users. Some of the same users have also publicly criticized Musk's move on Twitter.

Bluesky seems to have managed to attract public attention, where according to data from App Annie's company Bluesky has been downloaded more than 375,000 times from Apple's App Store and many more registration requests have not been met.

On the Google Play Store, Bluesky is explained to have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. However, it remains unclear whether Bluesky will survive or not like Mastodon, another Twitter alternative that is also quite popular.

Currently, Bluesky is only available to invite users who join the beta program. Users who have joined will get one invitation code every two weeks to share with someone. However, this sense of exclusivity only adds to the joy of those who want to join Bluesky.