Bluesky is rapidly emerging as the go-to platform for crafting a personalized social media experience, presenting an opportunity for queer men to create spaces that truly reflect what they actually want to see.
After this last U.S. presidential election, Bluesky’s popularity is soaring. Since November 6th, the platform has attracted millions of users seeking an alternative to traditional social media, especially Twitter (I will not be calling it X anytime soon).
Whether youโre new to Bluesky or considering making the switch, this guide will help you understand why Bluesky stands out from platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and tips to curate your experience for maximum enjoyment.
Why People Are Leaving Other Platforms for Bluesky
Concerns Over Algorithm Control
On platforms like Twitter, users are frustrated by feeds dictated entirely by algorithms that prioritize engagement over user satisfaction. Bluesky counters this by allowing users to choose from multiple algorithms (in the form of multiple feeds)โor none at allโgiving them more control over their experience.
Better Moderation and Community Standards
The rise of hate-speech on Twitter and inconsistent moderation on Instagram has driven users to new online spaces. Blueskyโs focus on fostering a more controlled, positive environment resonates with users looking for alternatives.
Political Neutrality
Elon Muskโs public support for President-elect Donald Trump has alienated many users on Twitter, especially those with liberal or progressive leanings. Bluesky has emerged as a politically neutral alternative that aligns more closely with these usersโ values.
Enhanced User Experience
Blueskyโs ad-free platform and customizable feeds provide a refreshing alternative for those tired of traditional social mediaโs chaotic, algorithm-driven approach. The ability to compartmentalize content into separate feeds has been particularly appealing for users seeking a more organized and satisfying experience.
For many, Bluesky represents a refuge from the frustrations of platforms like Twitter, offering a better way to interact with social media on their own terms.
Blueskyโs Fresh Take on Social Media Customization
To expand on its enhanced user experience, Bluesky allows users to create multiple feeds that arenโt connected to one another.
Think of it like switching between TV channels: each channel serves a specific purposeโnews, entertainment, or educational contentโallowing you to choose what youโre in the mood for. Similarly, magazines focus on curated topics, and newspapers separate content into clearly defined sections like sports, business, and lifestyle. Even conversations naturally stick to one topic at a time, helping them flow smoothly.
By contrast, traditional social media platforms combine all types of contentโmemes, breaking news, personal updatesโinto a single, overwhelming feed. This jumble of information creates a jarring, chaotic experience that can leave you feeling disoriented and disengaged.
Bluesky solves this by allowing you to separate your content into distinct feeds, each tailored to different aspects of your life. Whether youโre looking for lighthearted memes, breaking news, or personal connections, Bluesky lets you compartmentalize your experience, ensuring your feed always matches your mood and needs.
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Understanding Feeds on Bluesky
The feed flixibility is probably the most revolutionary feature of Bluesky. Unlike traditional platforms like Instagram and Facebook, which rely on a single feed, or Twitter, with its “For You” and “Following” options, Bluesky offers far greater flexibility. Its feed system allows you to tailor your social media experience by focusing on specific interests and themesโlike switching channels on a TV.
While this customization is incredibly handy, there is a learning curve. Hereโs how Blueskyโs feed system works:
Default Feeds
Bluesky starts you off with two primary feeds to keep things simple:
- Following Feed: A chronological feed displaying posts from the accounts you follow. This ensures you never miss updates from your network.
- Discover Feed: A curated feed showcasing trending content tailored to your interests and connections. Itโs great for exploring whatโs popular on the platform.
These are the feeds that appear by default when you open the website or app.
Customized Feeds
Custom feeds take Blueskyโs flexibility to the next level. Users can select feeds built around specific themes, interests, or communities. For example, you might find a feed tailored for queer men, niche hobbies, or focused topics like photography or fitness.
They allow you to tailor your social media experience to your specific purpose in the moment. Whether you want to connect with your community, catch up on the news, pop culture, science, or the arts, you can select exactly what youโre looking for. Youโre no longer forced to consume all types of media and information simultaneously.
Bluesky promotes a “marketplace of algorithms,” enabling users to choose from a wide variety of additional feeds or even create their own. To add new feeds to your homepage:
- Locate the Feeds Section:
- Navigate to the left-hand sidebar on your dashboard. Look for the hashtag (#) icon, which represents the Feeds section.
- Browse or Search:
- Explore the list of available feeds, or use the search bar to type in keywords matching your interests.
- Add to Homepage:
- To add a feed to your homepage for easy access, click the “+” icon next to the feedโs name.
- Once added, the feed will appear on your homepage, allowing you to view its content directly.
Creating Feeds
If you want to design your own feed to add to Bluesky’s “marketplace of algorithms,” keep in mind that it currently requires technical knowledge of the AT Protocol (essentially, coding skills). While an app called SkyFeed aims to make this process easier, we havenโt yet tested it.
Creating a custom feed can be a rewarding way to tailor content even further, but it may feel daunting for beginners. For now, most users stick to selecting from existing feeds in the Marketplace.
Making the Choice: Custom Feeds or Separate Accounts on Bluesky
Many queer men use separate social media accountsโlike alt Twitters or finstasโto explore adult content or share aspects of their lives they’d prefer to keep private. This separation helps manage different facets of personal, professional, and intimate life. On Bluesky, you might wonder whether custom feeds are enough or if you should create separate accounts. Consider factors like simplicity, privacy, and mental health when making your decision.
Factors to Consider
Simplicity
- Custom Feeds: Using custom feeds within a single account is straightforward. You have one login and can switch between different content themes easily. If you’re comfortable with all your interactions tied to one profile, this option keeps things simple.
- Separate Accounts: Managing multiple accounts requires more effort with separate logins and profiles. However, it allows you to compartmentalize your life completely. For instance, you can have one account for everyday interactions and another dedicated to exploring adult content without mixing the two.
Privacy and Activity Visibility
Privacy is crucial, especially when engaging with adult content or topics you’d prefer to keep confidential. Understanding how Bluesky handles activity visibility can help you make an informed choice.
Custom Feeds:
- Linked Activity: While custom feeds let you organize content, all your activityโposts, likes, and followsโis linked to your main account.
- Posts and Likes: Unless your account is private, others can see what you post and like. So, people can see when you click on adult content.
- Followers and Following Lists: Your list of followers and who you’re following is visible, potentially revealing interests you’d prefer to keep private.
- Privacy Settings Limitations: Bluesky’s privacy settings apply to your entire account, not individual feeds. You can’t hide certain interactions while keeping others public within the same account, which may not offer the discretion you need.
Separate Accounts:
- Enhanced Discretion: Creating distinct accounts lets you keep activities entirely separate. Followers on one account won’t see what you do on another, giving you greater control over who sees what.
- Separate Followers and Following Lists: Each account has its own set of followers and followings, preventing overlap and maintaining the separation between different areas of your life.
- Privacy Control: This is especially important when you want to engage with adult content or personal topics privately, ensuring that professional contacts or family members don’t have visibility into these activities.
Mental Health
- Custom Feeds: Filtering content through custom feeds can help reduce exposure to topics that might affect your well-being, like stressful news or fitness content. However, since all interactions are under one account, unwanted content might still surface, and you might inadvertently expose yourself to content you’re trying to avoid.
- Separate Accounts: Dedicated accounts for different interests allow you to create safe spaces. You can engage with uplifting content in one account while exploring other interests in another, supporting your mental health more effectively by keeping these experiences distinct.
Using This Information to Decide
- If Simplicity Matters: If you prefer ease of use and don’t mind your followers seeing all your activity, sticking with custom feeds might be sufficient.
- If Privacy Is Crucial: If you want strict separationโlike ensuring professional contacts or family don’t see your engagement with adult contentโseparate accounts are advisable.
- For Mental Health Reasons: If certain content impacts you negatively or you want to compartmentalize different emotional experiences, separate accounts can help you create more positive online environments.
Now it’s up to you
Consider your priorities when choosing between custom feeds and separate accounts on Bluesky. Think about how much separation you need and how each option aligns with your desire for simplicity, privacy, and mental well-being. By understanding how Bluesky handles activity visibility and using that knowledge, you can make an informed decision that best suits your needs.
Why Bluesky is Better than Meta or Twitter at Creating Separate Accounts
Platforms frequently use shared data, like phone numbers, IP addresses, cookies, or device information, to link multiple accounts created by the same user. This means that even if you maintain a private account for personal expression and a public account for professional use, the algorithms may cross-pollinate information. For instance, your private account’s activityโsuch as following certain creators, liking posts, or engaging with niche contentโcould influence the recommendations, ads, or suggested connections that appear on your main account.
Closing Thoughts
Bluesky offers a chance to redefine how you interact with social mediaโa platform where you can take control of your experience, curate the content that matters most to you, and engage on your terms. For queer men, itโs an opportunity to build spaces that feel authentic, supportive, and free from the noise and chaos of traditional platforms.
If youโre ready to explore Blueskyโs potential, weโd love to connect with youโfollow us here to stay in the loop and join the conversation.
Weโre also excited to share our free 10-day course, designed to help you rethink how social media can support your self-image and well-being. Sign up here to be notified when itโs available!
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