Bluesky, the decentralised social networking platform, has unveiled group chat functionality, a key development in its evolving strategy to cultivate a more community-centric online experience. The new feature, available in app version 1.124, allows up to 50 individuals to engage in private conversations, marking a notable departure from its initial focus on broad public posting.
This strategic pivot comes as Bluesky seeks to carve out a distinct niche in the competitive social media landscape. With approximately 44.8 million registered users, it faces formidable rivals such as X, which boasts 600 million monthly active users, and Meta's Threads. By concentrating on smaller, more intimate community features, Bluesky aims to attract users seeking greater control and a sense of belonging, rather than solely striving for mass public reach.
The group chat feature offers creators autonomy over their discussions, enabling them to manage participants and generate shareable invite links. Participants, in turn, can customise who is permitted to invite them to chats, with options ranging from 'everyone' to 'only people they follow' or 'no one'. While media sharing is not yet supported in group chats, Bluesky has indicated that this functionality will be introduced following the implementation of necessary safety and moderation systems.
Alex Benzer, Bluesky's head of product, has articulated the company's vision for a future where the platform is composed of numerous smaller, dedicated spaces. These 'communities' will allow users to delve deeper into shared interests and connect with like-minded individuals. Benzer explained that these communities will eventually possess their own unique handles, such as 'community-name.bsky.social', and will offer flexible privacy settings, including public, invite-only, or private options, akin to features found on platforms like Facebook Groups or Reddit.
This move is particularly pertinent given X's recent decision to discontinue its 'Communities' feature due to low engagement and spam issues. Bluesky appears to be capitalising on this gap, aiming to provide users with a more robust and controllable community experience built on its open 'AT Protocol' infrastructure. Alongside group chats, the updated app also introduces personalised QR codes for profile sharing, enhancing discoverability and connection.
The underlying implication is that Bluesky is betting on a growing user desire for alternatives to 'Big Tech' platforms, offering an environment where individuals feel they have more ownership and influence over their online interactions, potentially mitigating concerns about account management and AI moderation.
Source: Bluesky