X competitor Bluesky is doubling down on its user-first philosophy. The new Twitter-like platform has been making waves post-US election, and as the user base grows — by 8.5 mn in the past two weeks — so does anxiety over whether or not another corporate takeover is on the horizon.

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Users won’t have to worry about the platform becoming an ad-infested hellscape, says CEO Jay Graber. CNBC cited the CEO calling the platform “bn’aire proof” due to its open source design — the app accessible source code, highly customizable feed, refusal to allow targeted ads makes the platform unattractive for buyers … and all the more appealing to users.

What is open source? The platform’s source code isn’t copyrighted, meaning that users and developers can use it to clone the platform without any legal repercussions — users can pack up to migrate to a clone app, bringing their followers with them instead of starting from scratch, if they have reason to leave en masse. “What happened to Twitter couldn’t happen to us,” Graber stated.

What’s the plan? Bluesky is sidestepping algorithmic ad models in favor of fundraising rounds and possibly monetizing through subscription features from a growing developer ecosystem. They will allow third-party coders develop mods and features for the app that people can access, subscribe to, or even buy, making the app fully customizable.

Its commitment to privacy, user control, and innovation is popularising itself in a field dominated by X and Threads. Still, with X reportedly pulling in over 318 mn monthly users — down from over 600 mn in May (according to Elon Musk) — and Threads at 275 mn, Bluesky has a long road ahead despite its impressive traction.

Intrigued? You can create an account through the Bluesky homepage, and learn to navigate the platform through AP’s explainer.

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