The social media race has moved up faster after the new Bluesky social media platform was introduced.
Right now, π/Twitter is still the popular place for public conversations, but Bluesky is trying to build something different.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the difference between Bluesky and π/Twitter.
π/Twitter
π/Twitter has been around for years and is still popular for breaking news and viral moments.
Its large user base (of up to 580 million users) makes it perfect for brands to utilize.
π/Twitter also offers ads, scheduling tools, and analytics that businesses can use and heavily rely on.
But π/TwitterΒ is heavily controlled by its own algorithm, which means your visibility often depends on how you follow the platformβs rules or how much youβre willing to pay for ads.
Furthermore, π/Twitter is privately owned by Elon Musk. So the platforms direction entirely depends on the owner.
Bluesky
Publicly released in 2023 by the former π/TwitterΒ CEO, Bluesky is a newer social media but it has been built differently.
Instead of one company deciding what everyone sees and what features are built, Bluesky users can create or choose their own feeds and what they can see, but also build their own features since Bluesky is open-source.
Right now, Bluesky doesnβt have any ads or scheduling, but it is less crowded and more community-focused.
And if you need features such as scheduling, you can always use third-party Bluesky tools such as Hypefury
π/Twitter vs Bluesky
Here are a few differences between Twitter (π) and Bluesky:
1. Platform Structure
Twitter (π) Platform Structure
Runs as a centralized system, which simply means that the company controls the algorithms, moderation, and how content gets delivered.Β
People and businesses use the platform as is without modifying or editing anything.Β
If you don’t like a feature or the algorithm, you can’t do anything about it.
Bluesky Platform StructureΒ
Bluesky, on the other hand, is completely different from π/Twitter structure.Β
While π/Twitter is centralized, Bluesky is decentralized. Built on the AT protocol, Bluesky works on a decentralized model, allowing people to create or select their own feeds.
This means users have more control over how content is discovered.
And modifying and customizing your Bluesky feed is just a small part of what you can do with Bluesky.Β
Since Bluesky is open-source, you can build any feature that you want and create your own Bluesky client that you can use to have your own features.Β
2. Algorithm Control
π/Twitter and Bluesky differ on how their algorithms and feeds work.Β
π/Twitter Algorithm and Feed
π/Twitter has a centralized algorithm that is controlled by the platform. They control how posts are ranked, how they are displayed to users, and how they are prioritized.Β
So users have no complete control over the posts they see and how they are ranked.Β
However, π/Twitter’s algorithm is open-source so you can learn what makes a post perform more and do those things.
Bluesky Algorithm and Feed
Bluesky’s algorithm and feed are completely different from π/Twitter.Β
While π/Twitter’s algorithm is set in stone and is controlled by the platform, Bluesky’s algorithm is controlled by the users.Β
Users can choose from multiple feeds or even create their own.Β
This allows users to control what kind of posts they see and how they are ranked.
3. Advertising Model
π/Twitter
π/Twitter relies on ads to generate revenue and allows it’s users to run ad campaigns to show their posts to other accounts based on interests and recent activity.Β
These ads appear on the timeline, search results, and even on posts (replies).Β
While ads provide an opportunity for business to reach more people, many users finds this experience bad and choose to pay π premium so that they don’t see ads.
BlueskyΒ
Bluesky does not offer ads on it’s platform at all and their selling point is that they allows users to browse their platform ad-free.Β
While this may be a turn down for businesses, many users like this experience.
4. Monetization
π/Twitter Creator Monetization
π/Twitter has a clear way that allows top creators to generate revenue through it’s app.Β
The feature is available to all π/Twitter premium users that reach enough impressions to be eligible for Creator Revenue Sharing.Β
Bluesky Creator Monetization
Bluesky does not have a direct way where creators can earn money directly through the app.Β
Any revenue that you can earn through Bluesky is not directly from Bluesky themselves. You can earn revenue through advertising other businesses, copywriting, and other services that you may offer.
5. Post Scheduling
π/Twitter Post Scheduling
π/Twitter offers built-in post scheduling through its professional tools.
You can schedule posts (not threads) into the future and not worry about posting manually every time you have to follow your posting schedule.
Bluesky Post Scheduling
Currently, Bluesky does not have a native way of scheduling posts.Β
However, you can use Bluesky third-party tools such as Hypefury to schedule your Bluesky posts.
6. Privacy Practices
π/Twitter Privacy Practices
Collects a lot of user data, mainly to run targeted advertising.
This makes it useful for businesses that want targeted customers, but it raises privacy concerns for some users.
Bluesky Privacy Practices
Currently avoids targeted ads and collects less data.
Their focus is more on community and less on monetization.
3. Audience Differences
Both platforms are popular among younger people, especially those aged 18 to 34-ish, the main difference is the scale between the two.
Twitter (π)
It has a global audience across all industries, for mass visibility Twitter absolutely wins
Bluesky
Bluesky attracts early adopters, tech enthusiasts and smaller communities.
So, if your focus is looking to grow, Bluesky could be a good space for you and your community to grow.
7. Verification & Authenticity
π/Twitter Verification
Uses the blue checkmark, which can be obtained through a subscription model.Β
Anyone can have the blue checkmark nowadays. You just have to pay for π/Twitter premium. And for companies they can pay to obtain a gold check mark.
Bluesky Verification
Bluesky’s first form of verification was letting users connect their own domains as their Bluesky handle.
This is a little bit technical but everybody can do it.Β
To prove authenticity for notable and public figures, Bluesky also has blue checkmarks that users can obtain by filling a form.Β
Final Thoughts
Twitter (π)Β is established and powerful while Bluesky is young but promising.
Choosing between them depends on your goals whether you want mass exposure, a less noisy and more private environment or a mix of both.
