Banning controversy reveals Bluesky's decentralized aspiration isn't reality
8 hours ago
- #Decentralization
- #Moderation
- #Bluesky
- Bluesky launched in 2023 as a decentralized, user-friendly alternative to Twitter, attracting anti-Musk users.
- Bluesky's moderation approach allows users to create blocklists, but this has led to controversies over banned accounts like Jesse Singal.
- The platform faced backlash for allegedly tolerating racist and anti-trans content, leading to user strikes and petitions.
- Bluesky's ATProto protocol is complex, hindering full decentralization—Blacksky, an alternative, remains dependent on Bluesky's infrastructure.
- A Blacksky user, 'Link,' was banned by Bluesky moderators, revealing flaws in Bluesky's decentralization claims.
- Bluesky CEO Jay Graber faced criticism for her responses to user complaints, including a 'waffles' meme that sparked backlash.
- Bluesky's moderation policies have drawn comparisons to Musk's Twitter, with users questioning its commitment to free speech.
- Despite promises of federation, no independent ATProto implementation fully functions without Bluesky's support.
- Developers are working on projects like Slices to improve ATProto's usability for alternative platforms.
- Link's ban highlights the unresolved tension between Bluesky's decentralization goals and its centralized moderation power.