If you thought the Twitter alternative wave was over, you might want to check again. Bluesky emerged in 2023 as a Twitter alternative attracting a lot of hype.

You’ll likely have heard of Bluesky, owing to its increasing popularity. Naturally, you’re probably wondering what it is, how you join, and whether it’s worth your time.

What Is Bluesky Social?

Bluesky Social is a decentralized microblogging social media client. On Bluesky, you can send ‘skeets’ that are either text, image, or video-based, as well as replying or reposting other users’ skeets.

The app itself is very similar to Twitter, with a home feed made up of people that you follow as well as a tab to search for new users and content.

You can edit your profile, changing your profile picture or header image. Dark mode is available, and you can have multiple accounts that you select between all on one app.

On the surface, Bluesky is a no-frills Twitter clone that takes the idea of the microblogging platform back to its roots. But beneath that, Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform that may redefine your relationship with social media.

What Is the AT Protocol That Bluesky Uses?

Bluesky operates using the AT Protocol, which is a new networking protocol designed to “power the next generation of social”. Using open networking, the AT Protocol strives to offer you:

• Open algorithms, with more choice over what you see and the volume of it.
• The ability to speak to anyone on the AT Protocol, regardless of platform, known as “federated social”.
• Provide security and privacy over your metadata.
• Offer portability between your various devices.

Chances are, at least half of those features are important to you as a regular social media user. Bluesky is the first real test of the AT Protocol in action, but it’ll be interesting to see how the protocol develops over the years.

How Do You Sign Up to Bluesky?

If you’re a fan of Twitter (and returning to its, the chances are you want to sign up to Bluesky. Unfortunately, you may not be able to get access for a while. Whether you think invite-only social platforms are a good idea or not, Bluesky unfortunately is on an invite-only basis.

You’ll need to get an invitation code to join Bluesky. The problem is, invite-only codes are hard to come by.

Is Bluesky the Best Twitter Alternative?

You’re likely wondering how much relevance Bluesky has, given how much Twitter alternatives have been struggling to succeed.

On paper, Bluesky does seem to be the best Twitter alternative, given the fact it was created by Twitter’s creator Jack Dorsey, and incorporates the off-putting features of Mastodon in a more digestible way.

It’s backed by a fairly concise and stable interface, and the user list is being built slowly so that expectations aren’t lowered ahead of time.

It’s early days, and the competition in the Twitter alternative continually picks up steam due to Elon Musk’s very public struggles with the platform.

Hive Social, Truth Social, Mastodon, and the others aren’t likely to give up without a fight, but Bluesky seems to be offering a complete package that’s future-proofed against the coming paradigm shifts online.

If it can maintain stability, refine its accessibility to the everyday user, and attract enough users at a consistent rate, then it could easily be the best Twitter alternative.

While it’s not easy nor simple, the team behind the platform has proven results in the social media space and are offering a trendy alternative that benefits users in all the right ways.

Keep an Eye on Bluesky

If you’re patiently waiting for a viable Twitter alternative then you may want to keep an eye on Bluesky.

While it’s early days and not even in a public beta yet, you shouldn’t expect to wait too long before having access to the platform.