Bluesky is a social-network app for public conversation, built on the open AT Protocol. It looks and feels like a short-form microblogging service, but the protocol is designed to let different services host accounts and data, provide feeds, and offer moderation tools that can work together.
How does Bluesky work?
Bluesky is the app most people use; the AT Protocol is the underlying open framework. Bluesky’s official FAQ describes AT Protocol as “a protocol for public conversation and an open-source framework for building social apps.” Its technical documentation describes an open network in which compatible apps can read and write the same public data. Shared content uses schemas called Lexicons so different services can interpret record types.
In practice, users post and interact through an app, while the protocol is intended to make it possible for other compatible services to work with the same network. A 2024 Cambridge research paper describes Bluesky as a Twitter-style microblogging app built on a decentralized protocol, with design goals that include interoperable providers, easier provider switching, and greater user agency over content and moderation.
Is Bluesky like Twitter or X?
At the level of everyday use, yes: both are public-facing, short-form social networks where people post updates and interact with other users. The key difference is in the design ambitions behind Bluesky. Its protocol is intended to support more choice over feeds, moderation services, and—subject to implementation and service support—where an account is hosted. That does not mean every part of Bluesky is controlled by users or that the network has no platform-level rules.
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What can you control on Bluesky?
Feeds and ranking
Bluesky offers chronological, discovery, and custom feeds. Custom feeds let users choose or follow different ways of arranging posts rather than relying on one universal ranking algorithm. In a September 19, 2025 product post, Bluesky said its app had a marketplace of more than 100,000 algorithms built by users. That is the company’s dated description of the marketplace, not a guarantee that every feed will suit every user.
Moderation and labels
Bluesky supports composable moderation: users can subscribe to independent labeling and moderation services alongside platform-level enforcement. This gives users additional choices about what to filter or label, but it does not eliminate Bluesky’s own moderation or guarantee that all services will use the same standards.
Account identity and portability
A Bluesky user can use a domain they control as their handle, which can make an account easier to recognize as belonging to a publication, organization, or creator. The protocol is also designed to support moving an account between service providers while retaining identity and social connections. That portability depends on implementation and the support of the services involved; it should not be read as a promise that every account detail or feature will transfer seamlessly in every case.
Are Bluesky posts private?
No. Bluesky’s visibility documentation says that all data published to the AT Protocol is public and that Bluesky posts are technically accessible to anyone. Visibility preferences may reduce a post’s distribution or reach, but they do not make ordinary posts private like messages in an encrypted messenger. Do not publish sensitive information on the assumption that a setting makes it confidential.
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Is Bluesky decentralized?
Bluesky is built on a decentralized protocol, but “decentralized” does not mean there is no central company, no moderation, or no service dependencies. The protocol’s design supports interoperable apps and providers, account portability, and user choice over feeds and moderation. How much practical choice a person has depends on the services available and how well they implement those capabilities.
How large is Bluesky?
Bluesky’s company FAQ reported more than 44 million users in May 2026. Its 2025 transparency report said the service grew from 25.94 million to 41.41 million users during 2025. These are company-reported figures, and network size can change quickly.
The same 2025 transparency report listed 9.97 million reports reviewed, 16.49 million labels applied, 2.45 million pieces of violating content removed, and 24/7 moderation coverage. These figures describe Bluesky’s reported operational activity; they are not an independent audit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move my Bluesky account to another provider?
The AT Protocol is designed to support switching providers while retaining identity and social connections, but the result depends on implementation and support from the services involved.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat are Bluesky custom feeds?
They are feeds that let users choose or follow alternative ways of selecting and ordering posts, rather than relying on a single default ranking.
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