Going to Bluesky

There are of course some benefits of continuing to use X for business. It has a large and well-established user base. It still has value when it comes to access to real-time news and trends. Journalists, public figures, and celebrities frequently use it as a primary channel to share updates despite the increasing ethical concerns about the direction of the platform. In addition, it offers good opportunities for businesses to advertise and monetize.

This is great for businesses that are less concerned with business ethics. For some, the trade-offs of switching to newer platforms may not yet outweigh the advantages of staying. Businesses with a somewhat better ethical standard are perhaps exploring platforms Bluesky. Switching from Twitter (now X) to Bluesky can depend on various factors, especially given the differences in platform philosophy, features, and community culture.

If I understand Bluesky correctly it is aiming for a more decentralized network. This gives users more control over their data and how content is curated compared to X which has a centralized platform, meaning all decisions, policies, and control lies with the company.

Over the last years, it appears that X has had a somewhat inconsistent moderation policy which has led to a more toxic environment with also an increase of harassment and misinformation on X. Bluesky may go towards a more community-led moderation which allows for customized algorithmic experiences.

Bluesky is still in its early stages and lacks heavy monetization strategies, offering a cleaner, less ad-driven experience. With X however, ads and paid subscription models seem to be the dominant driving factors that will probably drive users away from the platform.

Then there is the Musk factor. X is Musk, but Bluesky is not. In addition, Bluesky is a growing platform that early adopters may be able to shape and benefit from over time.

For Bethics, who has never been comfortable with Twitter/X, Bluesky offers an alternative we should at least explore. It may just be what we need to create a less toxic global platform that is not used to spread misinformation and does not struggle to deal with harassment. However, it does sound a bit naive when I type it out.

Follow Bethics at bethicscom.bsky.social