Bluesky struggles with rapid growth amid safety concerns

Bluesky is a new social media platform that recently gained a substantial number of users, particularly leftists fleeing from X/Twitter. Launched in 2019 as a project within Twitter and later established as an independent public benefit corporation in 2022, Bluesky has attracted over 21 million users. CEO Jay Graber emphasizes that the platform's design is intended to be 'billionaire proof,' allowing users to retain their followers even if the company faces an acquisition or shutdown. Unlike its competitors, Bluesky's open-source model is meant to provide transparency and user control, which sets it apart from platforms like X, formerly Twitter, and Meta’s Threads. Despite its rapid growth, Bluesky has encountered significant safety issues during its expansion. The platform's safety team reported receiving 42,000 moderation reports in just one day, a stark increase compared to the 360,000 reports in all of 2023. Disturbingly, many of these reports involve child sexual abuse material (CSAM), raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of Bluesky's moderation policies. Users on other platforms, especially X/Twitter, have noted that Bluesky's moderation mirrors the pre-Elon Musk era, suggesting a potential for heavy censorship of dissenting opinions, which might deter users seeking a more open environment. Bluesky's foundation by Jack Dorsey was based on a vision for a better social media experience, and the company aims to provide special features through subscriptions and services for developers. However, the company's rapid growth and recent challenges highlight the complexities of building a safe and user-friendly platform within a competitive and often criticized social media landscape. As Bluesky continues to evolve, it must balance the need for user freedoms with the responsibility of ensuring safety and preventing the spread of harmful content. With its open-source approach and strong emphasis on user control, Bluesky presents itself as a radical alternative to traditional social media networks that often prioritize advertising revenues. The landscape of social media continues to shift, with Bluesky's emergence reflecting broader trends towards more user-centric and transparent platforms. However, the company's ability to maintain user trust while addressing persistent safety concerns remains a critical challenge for its long-term success.