What is Bluesky Social and how do I sign up?

Are you looking for a new social media platform alternative to the status quo? Bluesky may pique your interest. Originally developed as an extension of  X (previously known as Twitter), it’s now billed as one of the many X alternatives. But what is Bluesky Social, and how do you get started? We cover all this and more below.

What is Bluesky Social?

Bluesky Social is a new platform that allows users to send short-form messages and updates to one another. Bluesky is different from other social media apps because it’s built on open-source software, and there’s no centralized authority dictating how and when users can interact with each other.

On the surface, Bluesky’s user interface is very much like X’s. Users can see a timeline full of all the posts from the accounts they follow. You can interact with other posts by liking them, responding to them, and resharing them with your followers. Unlike X, you cannot set your posts to private — anyone can see them.

If you’re an X user, transitioning to the Bluesky app should feel seamless as it essentially offers the same user experience, minus the fluctuating restrictions.

That’s not to say Bluesky will be the wild west of social media. Content moderation still exists; the difference here is the user has total control over what type of content or speech they want to filter out of their experience.

Is Bluesky Social available?

If creative freedom and decentralization appeal to you, you likely want to go and get your Bluesky account immediately. Fortunately, now you can freely do so.

This is a big deal, as Bluesky Social was an invite-only platform until February 2024. The doors are open, and you can go straight to Bluesky Social’s website to create your account. Additionally, Bluesky is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Things are moving fast, as the latest reports claim there are now over four million registered users. Will you be the next one?

How to sign up for Bluesky Social

Are you ready to join the fast? We think you should at least give it a try. This might turn into a fun social network. Follow the steps below to get your account.

1. Go to bsky.social.
2. Click on Log In or Sign Up.
3. Select Create a new account.
4. Enter your information and click on Next.
5. Enter your phone number and select Request code.
6. Enter the verification code and hit Next.
7. Select a handle and select Next.
8. The service will ask you a few more questions regarding your interests. Follow instructions to finish the set-up process.
9. You’re in!

Is Bluesky worth it?

It’s too early to tell if Bluesky will be a viable alternative to well-established social platforms. Despite having over four million subscribers, this number is very low compared to X’s 619 million monthly active users, as of January 2024. We’ve compared Bluesky with X (formerly Twitter) and Threads, if you want to learn more.

However, if you’re tired of X, but desire a similar user experience, then the Bluesky app could be a good option, especially if it continues to grow its user base. It’s not the only X alternative available, so it’s worth looking into what’s on the market.

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