Beyond Bluesky: These are the apps building social experiences on the AT Protocol

Tech Crunch - Mar 30th, 2025
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A year after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, Bluesky has emerged as a major competitor, growing its user base to over 33 million. Built on the AT Protocol, Bluesky and its ecosystem of apps aim to transform social networking by promoting an open, decentralized web. The ATmosphere conference in Seattle highlighted the protocol's potential and ongoing challenges as developers from various apps discussed the future of this burgeoning ecosystem.

The AT Protocol supports a wide range of applications, from photo-sharing apps like Flashes and Pinksky to livestreaming services such as Streamplace. This open technology empowers users to regain control over their social networking experiences and personal data, challenging centralized services dominated by tech giants. With the potential for new apps to emerge, this movement marks a significant shift in the social media landscape, fostering innovation and user autonomy.

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RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed overview of the Bluesky ecosystem and the various applications being developed on the AT Protocol. It scores well in terms of clarity and timeliness, offering a clear and current account of developments in the decentralized social network space. However, the article's accuracy and balance could be improved by including more verified data and presenting a wider range of perspectives, including potential challenges and criticisms. The source quality and transparency are areas that require attention, as the article lacks clear attribution and context for its claims. While the article addresses topics of public interest and has the potential to influence public opinion, its impact and engagement could be enhanced by incorporating more interactive elements and critical analysis. Overall, the article is informative and relevant but would benefit from a more balanced and transparent approach to reporting.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The article makes several factual claims about the growth and development of Bluesky and the AT Protocol ecosystem. It claims that Bluesky has grown to over 33 million users, which is a significant figure that would require verification from reliable sources. The article also discusses various applications built on the AT Protocol, such as Flashes, Spark, and Streamplace, providing details about their features and development status. While the article provides a comprehensive overview of the ecosystem, specific numbers and technical details about these apps and the protocol should be cross-verified with authoritative sources to ensure precision. Potential inaccuracies could arise if these figures or app functionalities are not supported by external data.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the positive aspects of Bluesky and the AT Protocol, highlighting the growth and potential of the ecosystem. It provides a detailed account of various apps being developed, which suggests a bias towards promoting the platform. However, it does not address potential challenges or criticisms, such as privacy concerns or the sustainability of decentralized networks. The lack of counterpoints or alternative perspectives could lead to an imbalanced representation, as readers are not provided with a comprehensive view of the ecosystem's potential drawbacks.

8
Clarity

The article is written in a clear and straightforward manner, making it easy for readers to understand the main points about the Bluesky ecosystem and the apps being developed. The language is accessible, and the structure is logical, with sections dedicated to different types of applications. The tone remains neutral and informative throughout, aiding comprehension. However, the inclusion of more technical details or jargon without explanation could potentially confuse readers unfamiliar with the subject matter.

5
Source quality

The article does not clearly attribute its information to specific sources, which makes it difficult to assess the credibility and reliability of the claims made. While it appears to be well-informed about the developments in the Bluesky ecosystem, the absence of direct quotes, interviews, or references to authoritative sources such as company reports or expert analyses weakens the overall source quality. A more robust inclusion of varied and authoritative sources would enhance the article's credibility and reliability.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the sources of its information and the methodology used to gather data. There is no mention of potential conflicts of interest or the basis for the claims made about user numbers and application features. Without clear context or explanations for how the information was obtained, readers may find it challenging to fully trust the article's content. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would improve the article's credibility and reader trust.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky
  2. https://20fix.com
  3. https://www.aspire.io/blog/a-quick-guide-to-bluesky
  4. https://events.umich.edu/list/csv?filter=alltypes%3A13&range=2025-03-30
  5. https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/26/whats-next-for-atproto-the-protocol-powering-bluesky-and-other-apps/