BlueSky Isn't Dying - and There's a Larger Ecosystem Growing Around Its Open Protocol

BlueSky has grown from 10 million users in November to 36.79 million today, with its last 30 days of traffic remaining level. Despite this, some outlets have reported that BlueSky's traffic is declining, comparing its current figures to a one-time spike seven months ago. However, the focus on BlueSky's user count misses the point of the wider network of apps built on the open protocol that BlueSky's team spearheaded. The AT Protocol allows users to build their own social platforms and customize their feeds to focus on specific content. Already, people are using the protocol to build social experiences for specific groups, and tools like Graze and Surf let users create custom feeds. The wider network of apps built on the AT Protocol includes photo- and video-sharing apps, livestreaming tools, and more. BlueSky is meant to be what users make it, and its content can be consumed in whatever format they prefer. The platform's CEO, Jay Graber, is not fazed by the debate and sees parallels with early-days Twitter, saying "Reports of our death are greatly exaggerated." One challenge BlueSky has not yet fully confronted is monetizing itself, with plans to introduce subscription services. The company's goal is to decentralize social networking via its open AT Protocol, which could provide the infrastructure for further-flung social experiences.