Bluesky enables federation, allowing individuals to operate their own server

Bluesky, a decentralized social network, has announced the opening up of its federation, enabling anyone to run their own server connected to the Bluesky network. This move allows individuals to host their data, manage their accounts, and set their own rules, similar to the model used by Mastodon but underpinned by a different protocol.

The interest in federation has surged due to consumer demand for more control over personal data, particularly after Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and its transformation into X, which shifted focus to become an “everything app” with relaxed moderation. This led former Twitter users to seek alternatives like Mastodon and Bluesky.

Bluesky, initially funded by Twitter under Jack Dorsey, has now become its own company, attracting funding like a typical startup. Since its public launch earlier this month, Bluesky has garnered over 5 million registered users. With federation, the network could expand further as users interested in self-hosting can set up their own server, or instance, with their own moderation guidelines.

Bluesky utilizes the AT Protocol, whereas Mastodon and many other networks use ActivityPub. Despite differences, Bluesky emphasizes features like global conversation participation, custom feeds, and composable moderation. Additionally, Bluesky aims to facilitate easier account portability compared to Mastodon, allowing users to switch servers without changing usernames or losing followers or posts.

For individuals interested in hosting their own service on Bluesky, some technical knowledge will be required. Resources to get started include Bluesky’s developer blog, its PDS (Personal Data Store) repository on GitHub, and the PDS Administrators Discord. Initially, federation will be open to those interested in running smaller servers.

Bluesky’s blog post mentions that there are guardrails in place to ensure the smooth operation of the network for everyone in the ecosystem during this initial phase. Afterward, federation will be opened up to individuals looking to run larger servers with many users.

Once alternatives are established, Bluesky will recommend its service as the default to new users. However, users will have the flexibility to switch to another service at any point without losing their data.