Why I’m Leaving X (Twitter) for BlueSky: The Case for a New Social Space

Discover why leaving X (Twitter) for BlueSky is more than just changing platforms—it's about reclaiming control, protecting privacy, and fostering a positive online community. Ready for a new digital era?

Why I’m Leaving X (Twitter) for BlueSky: The Case for a New Social Space

Introduction

Imagine this: You’re browsing X (formerly known as Twitter), a platform you’ve been part of for years, only to discover that your data is now being used in ways you never intended. I questioned my loyalty to X as it pivots toward new and increasingly invasive personal data uses. Once it was sold the platform became less the town square and more the 4 a.m. revelers roaming the streets looking for a drunken brawl. The guardrails were off, and disinformation was rampant. The people that made it interesting had fragmented into other social sites. X has become home to Bots invading each conversation, causing disruption and now connection.

If you are like me the last thing you want to do is sign up for another social site. In my former life, I had Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter opened on my desktop or my phone. Times were simpler. But Twitter was sold, became X, and everyone I followed scattered. I tried Post, Mastodon, Counter Social, and so on. I settled on posting to Instagram which filtered to Threads, and Facebook. LinkedIn was for professional posts and engagements. I was still on Twitter for following reality TV shows and the occasional political postings. However, I was more concerned with X’s policies regarding using my content for its use. Also, the owners were less interested in public discourse and more interested in spreading disinformation and disruption.

Enter BlueSky, a platform that promises to put control back in the hands of users. So why make the switch, and what does it mean for the future of our digital interactions?

The Data Dilemma—Why Privacy Matters

One of the main reasons I decided to leave X was the platform's growing tendency to collect and leverage user data for opaque purposes. From targeted advertising to potential partnerships that compromise user privacy, the risks of staying outweigh the familiar comforts. By contrast, BlueSky’s decentralized approach ensures that users have more transparency and control over how their data is managed.

Conclusion: The shift from X to BlueSky isn’t just about abandoning one platform for another; it’s about making a conscious decision to prioritize user rights and personal privacy. Plus, have a platform where you can safely discover new and interesting people and successfully weed out Bots and the 4 am drunken revelers.

Custom Domains and Data Portability

Unlike X, BlueSky offers an innovative feature allowing users to point their own custom domain to their profile. This means that if BlueSky ever goes in a direction that users disagree with, they can take their identity and data to another platform seamlessly. This level of autonomy is refreshing in a world where social media platforms often treat user data as their own asset.

Conclusion: The ability to maintain ownership of your online presence, even in the event of leaving a platform, is a game-changer. It’s a forward-thinking approach that highlights BlueSky’s commitment to user empowerment.

The Emotional Weight of Change

Deciding to leave X wasn’t easy. Like many, I feared losing connections, followers, and the sense of community I’d built over the years. The transition can feel like conceding the public square to voices that thrive on negativity. However, other platforms offer an option—a space where constructive discourse is nurtured. It’s a fresh start that many weary a social media user crave, even if starting over seems daunting.

Conclusion: While switching to a new platform can feel like a surrender, it’s actually a powerful statement. It’s choosing to prioritize positive interactions over staying with a service that no longer aligns with your values. Leaving X for BlueSky is more than just a platform shift; it’s a declaration of what we want from our digital interactions—privacy, control, and community. If you’re hesitant about starting anew, remember that it’s an opportunity to redefine your online presence and set a new standard for how social media should serve its users.

BlueSky has several positive features that make it stand out as a social media platform:

1. Better Feed Curation: Users have more control over their feeds, allowing them to customize what they see by toggling options like replies, resposts, and quoted posts. This helps create a more personalized experience1.
2. No Central Algorithm: Unlike many social media platforms, BlueSky doesn't use a central algorithm to decide what content you see. Instead, visibility is based on genuine engagement, such as likes and reskeets (BlueSky's version of retweets)2.
3. Privacy Options: BlueSky offers useful privacy options, including settings for non-sexual nudity and the ability to mute specific words and hashtags.
4. User Control: The platform emphasizes user control, allowing individuals to manage their digital identities and carry their social graph across apps that adopt the AT Protocol.
5. Decentralized Network: BlueSky operates on an open-source, decentralized network, which means it's not controlled by a single entity and aims to provide a more transparent and user-focused experience.
6. Custom Feeds and Lists: Users can create custom feeds and lists based on specific topics or interests, making it easier to find and engage with content that matters to them.
7. Starter Packs: BlueSky offers curated lists of accounts and topics to help users personalize their experience from the start.

These features contribute to a more user-friendly and customizable social media experience, which has led to its growing popularity.

Does this sound like a platform you'd be interested in trying out?

Follow me on BlueSky: Sandra Lee Schubert (@sandraleeschubert.bsky.social) — Bluesky

Crafted with the ChatGPT for research.