FIR #436: Nothin’ But Bluesky (and TikTok and Threads and Instagram and WhatsApp…)

Bluesky — the Twitter-esque social network that has suddenly started attracting refugees from Elon Musk’s X — had its start when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey asked software engineer Jay Graber to introduce federation to Twitter. She told him she couldn’t, but she could create a new social network based on a new federation protocol called AT, a decentralized foundation for public social media. At first, Bluesky was an invitation-only network. Many of those who scored invites were underwhelmed. But a surge of migrations from X has reinvigorated Bluesky, which is also adding features as a further incentive for people to join and stay. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel discuss Bluesky’s potential and whether communicators should consider establishing a presence for their companies or clients. --- Links from this episode: Bluesky’s Boom: Are We Watching the Next Big Shift? – NevilleHobson .com Journalists Are Leaving X for Bluesky. Will They Stay There? Bluesky Is Growing Up. Maybe Too Fast. Benefits of an open network Inside Bluesky’s big growth surge Mass X-odus: professionals desert Elon Musk’s network Number of users on Bluesky How Bluesky, Alternative to X and Facebook, Is Handling Explosive Growth Journalists Are Leaving X for Bluesky. Will They Stay There? Like ‘old Twitter’: The scientific community finds a new home on Bluesky CIPR to Cease Engagement on Twitter PRovoke Media Will No Longer Post on X ‘Growing space for connection’ – why charities are finally moving to Bluesky X-odus: Should Your Company Leave X? The next monthly, long-form episode of FIR will drop on Monday, December 2. We host a Communicators Zoom Chat most Thursdays at 1 p.m. ET. To obtain the credentials needed to participate, contact Shel or Neville directly, request them in our Facebook group, or email fircomments@gmail.com. Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music. You can find the stories from which Shel’s FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog. Shel has started a metaverse-focused Flipboard magazine. You can catch up with both co-hosts on Neville’s blog and Shel’s blog. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast are Shel’s and Neville’s and do not reflect the views of their employers and/or clients. Complete show notes, including transcript, are available here.