How a novel about the future convinced me to switch to Bluesky
Bluesky: The Decentralized Future of Social Media
by Jude Goodwin
A Vision from The Ministry for the Future
Earlier this year, I listened to a speculative novel, The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson which, set in the near future, describes a pretty desperate world. Opening with the death of 20 million people in India due to a heat wave, it continues describing the brutal realities of climate collapse. Through a mix of fictional narratives and real-world science, it depicts the devastating human and environmental toll of inaction. At the same time, Robinson explores radical political and technological interventions which I found exciting. It took me a long time to read the whole book - and I actually don’t think I finished it - but I will! The opening alone was so difficult to read, I had to start and restart before I made it past that heat wave!
Among Robinson’s possibilities is a decentralized, open-source social media platform built to empower users and protect communities from corporate and government control. In the novel, this alternative to traditional social media is not owned by a single entity but instead operates on an open protocol, allowing communities to build safer, more equitable online spaces. Robinson’s vision presents a stark contrast to today’s centralized platforms, which are controlled by billionaires and profit-driven algorithms.
This sounded so amazing to me, I turned to my robot (chatGPT) to ask if anything like this exists in our real world. And it does!
Searching for a Real-Life Alternative
As major social media platforms become more toxic, particularly for marginalized communities, the need for alternatives grows more pressing. This search led me to Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform built on the Authenticated Transfer Protocol (AT Protocol). Unlike traditional social networks, Bluesky allows users to choose their own moderation tools and customize their experience. There are other real-world decentralized social media platforms too:
Mastodon – A federated platform using the ActivityPub protocol, allowing users to join independent servers (instances) with unique moderation rules.
Nostr – A decentralized protocol that enables censorship-resistant social interactions.
Misskey – Another ActivityPub-based platform focused on a creative, community-driven experience.
Threads (by Meta) – While not decentralized yet, Meta has stated its intention to integrate with the ActivityPub protocol, potentially allowing some interoperability with other decentralized networks. I’m not too sure about this one but I guess I had to include it!
But Bluesky stood out because it combined decentralization with a user-friendly interface and a commitment to giving communities more control over their experience. And it’s really easy to use!
Twitter’s Toxicity Under Musk
I’m sure many of you dear readers know that since Elon Musk took over Twitter (now rebranded as X), the platform has become increasingly hostile, particularly for the 2SLGBTQiA+ community. Under his leadership:
Hate speech and harassment have surged as Musk rolled back content moderation policies.
Transphobic and anti-queer accounts are amplified, while protections against misgendering and deadnaming have been removed.
Verified status was sold, making it easier for misinformation and hate groups to spread unchecked.
Algorithmic bias favors right-wing content, pushing marginalized voices further into the background.
Content moderation teams were slashed, leaving many vulnerable to targeted abuse with little recourse.
For many users, Twitter is no longer a viable or safe space. The search for alternatives had become urgent.
What is Bluesky and How to Join
Bluesky was created as a decentralized alternative to traditional social media, initially incubated within Twitter before breaking away as an independent project. It runs on the AT Protocol, which allows users to:
Own their online identity (you can migrate your account to different hosting services).
Choose moderation tools instead of being subject to a single corporation’s rules.
Have an open algorithm marketplace, where users can pick how content is filtered and presented.
How to Sign Up
1.3. Create an account – Sign up at bsky.app and choose a username (laptop, pc, phone, table - all work).
2. Adjust Your Moderation Settings
Bluesky offers different levels of content filtering, allowing you to control what you see and who can interact with you.
Go to Settings: Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Moderation.
Choose your filters: Bluesky provides different moderation labels for content (e.g., hate speech, nudity, spam). You can set them to Hide, Warn, or Show depending on your comfort level.
3.Block or Mute Users:
Blocking prevents someone from seeing your posts and vice versa.
Muting hides their posts from your feed, but they can still see yours.
To block or mute, go to a user’s profile, tap the three-dot menu, and select Block or Mute
Customize Your Feed Algorithm
Unlike Twitter/X, Bluesky allows you to choose how your feed is organized rather than relying on a single algorithm.
Go to Settings > Feeds and browse different algorithm options.
You can follow custom feeds that prioritize specific types of content, such as news, queer community updates, or meme-heavy feeds.
Some users and developers create their own feeds, which you can subscribe to for a tailored experience.
4. Follow Users and Communities
Find people to follow by checking the Discover tab or searching for specific users. Look for community hashtags or follow public lists curated by other users to build a network that aligns with your interests.
Bluesky is new - there’s not much there yet - but if we encourage everyone to transfer over, we’ll have a lovely safe space. I find it so peaceful and amazing already.
5. Control Notifications
To prevent unwanted interactions:
Go to Settings > Notifications and choose whether to receive alerts for follows, replies, mentions, and likes.
You can limit notifications to only people you follow, reducing the chances of seeing harassment or spam.
These tools give you control over your experience, making Bluesky a safer and more enjoyable space than traditional social media platforms. Let me know if you’d like a more detailed breakdown of any feature!
Be sure to check for app updates – As the platform is still evolving, new features and improvements are frequently rolled out.
A Social Media Future We Can Build
Bluesky offers a glimpse of what social media can be when it’s not controlled by a single billionaire. While it’s still developing, it provides a much-needed alternative for those seeking a safer, more community-driven space online. Leaving Twitter may not be easy, but better platforms exist—and they need our support to thrive.
If you’re looking for a decentralized, open-source alternative where communities shape the experience, Bluesky might be the place for you.
And you can find What’s On Queer BC there!
Save to your Pocket to read later!