Jack Dorsey Criticizes Bluesky for Repeating Twitter’s Mistakes

Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter and a key figure in the creation of Bluesky, has publicly criticized the decentralized social media project for replicating the same errors that plagued Twitter. In a series of interviews and statements, Dorsey expressed his disappointment with Bluesky’s direction, highlighting issues around centralization, content moderation, and corporate influence.

Background on Bluesky

Bluesky was envisioned as a decentralized alternative to traditional social media platforms, aiming to create a more open and user-controlled environment. Launched as a public benefit corporation in 2022, Bluesky sought to develop an open-source protocol that would allow various social media platforms to interoperate seamlessly, promoting free speech and user autonomy.

Dorsey’s Departure from Bluesky

Dorsey resigned from Bluesky’s board, citing the project’s deviation from its original mission. He criticized the platform for becoming an independent entity with its own board and venture capital funding, which he believes contradicts the ethos of decentralization. Dorsey argued that Bluesky was supposed to be an open protocol, not another app with corporate oversight and traditional governance structures.

Critique of Content Moderation Policies

One of Dorsey’s primary criticisms centered on Bluesky’s content moderation policies. He pointed out that Bluesky, like Twitter, had started implementing bans for various offenses, such as using racial slurs in usernames. Dorsey was disappointed that Bluesky was not able to maintain a neutral stance and ended up following the same path as Twitter in terms of moderation, which he views as a compromise of the platform’s core principles.

Support for Nostr

In light of his dissatisfaction with Bluesky, Dorsey has shifted his support to Nostr, another decentralized social media protocol. He praised Nostr for staying true to the ideals of censorship resistance and free speech, which were central to his vision for Bluesky. Dorsey is financially backing Nostr and encouraging those who value decentralization to adopt it, despite its current usability challenges.

Reactions from Bluesky

Bluesky’s team, including CEO Jay Graber and protocol engineer Paul Frazee, responded to Dorsey’s criticisms by defending their approach. They argued that the platform’s design allowed for a familiar user experience while still being structurally open. Frazee mentioned that the initial plan for Twitter to be Bluesky’s first client was thwarted by Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, which led to the termination of the agreement. They emphasized that creating a fully unmoderated space was impractical given regulatory and user expectations.

Dorsey’s Broader Vision

Dorsey’s critiques are rooted in his broader vision for decentralized social media. He has consistently opposed the reliance on advertising revenue, which he believes compromises platform governance and content policies. Dorsey advocates for alternative revenue models such as subscriptions and commerce to ensure that platforms remain true to their principles without succumbing to corporate pressures.

Conclusion

Jack Dorsey’s departure from Bluesky and his subsequent critiques highlight the challenges of creating a truly decentralized social media platform. His concerns about Bluesky’s direction underscore the difficulties in balancing user freedom with practical governance. As Dorsey continues to support alternative projects like Nostr, the debate over the future of decentralized social media remains a critical issue for the industry.

The evolution of Bluesky and similar platforms will be closely watched as they navigate these complex challenges. The lessons learned from Twitter’s journey and Dorsey’s insights will undoubtedly shape the next generation of social media networks.