What is Bluesky? Social media platform owned by Jay Graber explained
BLUESKY is the latest social media platform that is set to rival existing channels.
The project was announced in 2019, and then blew up in popularity during the 2024 US Elections.
Bluesky aims to revolutionise the way personal data is handled on the internet.
The idea is that users don't hand over control of their data to the platform's creators.
How Bluesky works
Bluesky is a social media platform where people can interact with one another.
Similar to X, users post, reply, and message one another on a vertical user interface.
Read more on social media
However, unlike its rival, Bluesky offers users the chance to more heavily moderate their experience.
This means those signing up have the ability to select the algorithm that drives what they see, which helps create custom feeds.
Bluesky also allows users to have website addresses as their handles.
Bluesky's owner
The project was first announced on Twitter in 2019 by the former CEO, Jack Dorsey.
Most read in The Sun
He wrote: "Twitter is funding a small independent team of up to five open source architects, engineers, and designers to develop an open and decentralized standard for social media.
"The goal is for Twitter to ultimately be a client of this standard."
However, Bluesky became an independent company in 2021 and is now primarily owned by the chief executive, Jay Graber.
Becoming a hit
On November 15, 2024, Jay revealed the site had around 18 million users.
He posted that the platform is growing by 10,000 users every 10 to 15 minutes.
The platform has also benefited from some X users being unhappy with its billionaire owner, Elon Musk.
There was a spike in people switching from X to Bluesky due to Elon being closely tied to the US president-elect Donald Trump’s successful election campaign.
Star following
Since its launch, several high profile people have made the switch to Bluesky.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
This includes the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, the Liberal Democrat technology spokesperson Layla Moran and Labour’s Diane Abbott.
has also got on board, as has TV presenter Chris Packham, comedian Dara Ó Briain, and Countdown’s Susie Dent.
Latest tips and tricks for social media apps
Social media apps like Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp have become vastly popular - but are always hiding new features or leading viral trends. So here are some of the best things to know...
- How do you go live on TikTok?
- How to know if someone blocked you on WhatsApp?
- How do you deactivate your Instagram account?
- How do you download a Facebook video?
- How do you get dark mode on Snapchat?
- How do you delete a Twitter account?
- What does one tick mean on WhatsApp?
- What does the Medusa tattoo mean on TikTok?
- What are Snapchat streaks?
- How do you change your name on Facebook?
- How do you change your Instagram password?
- Who owns Twitter?