Bluesky, a new social network, has gained impressive traction since its private beta launch in February 2023, boasting over 3 million registered users in just one year. The network is built upon the AT Protocol, a decentralized foundation for public social media that draws inspiration from the web while incorporating real-time updates and cryptographic authentication. The architecture of Bluesky and the AT Protocol is designed to promote decentralization, allowing multiple providers for each aspect of the system and enabling users to easily switch providers. Users also have control over the content they see, and the system encourages community involvement in content moderation and management. The creators of Bluesky are eager for the research community to use the platform as a dataset and testing ground for innovative approaches to social media moderation.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.03239