04/09/23
A New Social Internet? Bluesky & The AT Protocol
a layman’s introduction
Today I’ve been seeing people begging for Bluesky referrals on my twitter timeline. In an effort to understand what Bluesky actually is and why it’s “different”, I went into a Bluesky rabbit hole.
Below is everything I know about Bluesky and their AT Protocol – made as accessible as possible for a lay audience.
ELI5 = Explain Like I’m 5.
First, a glossary
What is “open-source”?
"Open-source" refers to a type of software or technology that is developed in a collaborative, transparent manner and made freely available to the public. Open-source software is typically licensed under an open-source license, which allows users to view, modify, and distribute the source code and software without any restrictions. Open-source software is often developed by a community of contributors who work together to improve and refine the software over time. This collaborative approach can lead to faster innovation, more robust software, and a wider range of features and use cases. Some examples: Linux operating system, my SQL database, firefox web browser
What is a web protocol?
A web protocol refers to a set of rules and standards that govern communication between computers on the World Wide Web. Web protocols enable web browsers, servers, and other applications to exchange information in a standardized way, regardless of the platform or programming language used.
Some examples of commonly used web protocols include:
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The primary protocol used for transferring data over the web. HTTP defines how web browsers and servers communicate with each other, and specifies the format of data sent and received.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure): An extension of HTTP that adds encryption and authentication to enhance security. HTTPS is used for secure online transactions, such as online banking or shopping.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): A protocol used for transferring files between computers over the internet. FTP allows users to upload and download files to and from web servers.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): A protocol used for sending and receiving email messages over the internet. SMTP defines how email clients and servers communicate with each other, and specifies the format of email messages.
Overall, web protocols are essential for enabling the seamless exchange of information and services on the internet.
What is interoperability?
Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems or technologies to communicate and work together effectively. In other words, interoperability is the capacity of two or more systems to exchange and use information seamlessly and without errors. It’s achieved through the use of common standards and protocols that allow different systems to communicate and exchange data in a standardized way. Examples include APIs (application programming interfaces), which allow different software programs to interact with each other, and open standards like HTML and XML, which enable the exchange of data between different websites and applications
Basically, imagine one hospital system being able to share patient data with another hospital system seamlessly. Different platforms working together.
History
Jack Dorsey, the former owner and co-founder of Twitter, announced the upcoming beta launch of his latest project, Bluesky. This initiative is focused on developing a decentralized social protocol and has been touted by some as a potential "Twitter-killer" aka Dorsey saying “fuck you” to Elon Musk for melting down his company, but this initiative was actually started by Twitter. The reason was reported that it’s actually to collaborate with Elon.
Dorsey said, “the goal is for Twitter to ultimately be a client of this standard.” This article from October 2022 discusses how Twitter's founder Jack Dorsey lobbied Elon Musk to operate Twitter as an "open source protocol, funded by a foundation" in text messages. Dorsey argues that social media platforms should not have an advertising model as it gives governments and corporations a means to control discourse, and if there is a centralized entity behind it, it will be attacked. The article also notes that the launch of Bluesky's AT Protocol comes at a time when political polarization has caused criticism of social media platforms such as Twitter.
AT Protocol
Bluesky’s tagline is “building a social internet” – the web, email, RSS feeds, XMPP [1] chats
The common thread among these technologies was that they enabled people to engage with each other + generate content without relying on a central intermediary. Decentralized.
They’re building something they’re calling the “AT Protocol” – a social networking technology they claim is a new foundation which “gives creators independence from platforms, developers the freedom to build, and users a choice in their experience.”
This could be huge – especially re: limiting corporate and governmental influence on social media platforms. Bluesky believes that the AT Protocol, as a decentralized network, operates without the influence of any particular company. This independence is expected to enable users of social networks built on the protocol to safeguard their private data and circumvent corporate algorithms that frequently promote contentious content to maintain user engagement.
Their goal is for us as users to be able to trust our algorithms sans external influence. They want to foster interoperability – imagine TikTok working on instagram, Twitter on Substack (lmao), etc. They’ve developed a framework for interoperability called Lexicon to facilitate connectivity between different apps built on AT.
The AT Protocol is characterized by a set of distinctive features, as per the company's claims, such as algorithmic choice, interoperation, and account portability, which facilitates the seamless transfer of user accounts from one service provider to another without data loss.
Bluesky's initial early protocol release was in mid-2022, called the Authenticated Data Experiment (ADX), predating the AT protocol. This protocol involves personal data repositories managed by individual users, which social networks may choose to facilitate. Its purpose is to enable users to share messages or engagement features across different networks without interfering with the moderation policies of their home network. The personal data repository stores the data, and networks can selectively permit messages by throttling them.
Bluesky Social
The BlueSky Social App is a decentralized alternative to existing Twitter platform with the slogan, “Find your scene, post what’s new, and stay connected.” CMSWire reports
Going by screenshots posted on the app site, the profile format appears very similar to Twitter, allowing users to follow and be followed, repost and upload photos.
Reportedly, a simplified user interface allows users to create a post with a maximum of 256 characters, including photos, with the click of a plus button.
How to Sign up for Bluesky Social
Currently, while the Bluesky Social app is available for download, an invite code is required to create an account. According to the developer page, Bluesky will launch soon, but those interested in trying it now can join a waitlist to sign up for the beta before it's publicly available.
Sources
Decrypt: Jack Dorsey-Founded Bluesky Unveils Roadmap for Decentralized Social Networks
CMSWire: Bluesky: The Decentralized Twitter Alternative Now Available as Private Beta on Apple App Store
Wikipedia: Bluesky (protocol)
The Verge: Bluesky built a decentralized protocol for Twitter — and is working on an app that uses it
TechCrunch: Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative Bluesky hits the App Store as an invite-only app
Inc: Jack Dorsey's Bluesky Isn't Competing With Twitter. It's Future-Proofing It
The Verge: Twitter’s decentralized, open-source offshoot just released its first code
Notes
[1] XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) is a protocol used for real-time communication, such as instant messaging, voice and video chat, and online collaboration. XMPP was originally developed as an open-source alternative to proprietary messaging systems, and is now used by a variety of organizations, including social networks, instant messaging services, and enterprise communication platforms.
Bluesky’s main application right now is for social networks to be hosted on AT.
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