Bluesky Embraces a Fresh Personalized Algorithmic Feed
Previously, Bluesky's app boasted a "What's Hot" feed, an enticing realm where users vied for attention and followers. This feed showcased popular posts, amplifying content's visibility and potentially enhancing their follower count. Now, a transformation has dawned, and Bluesky bids farewell to its "What's Hot" feed, ushering in an Algorithmic wonderland called the "Discover" feed. This new terrain goes beyond trends, curating a blend of trending content, posts from your followed accounts, and those from accounts close to your social graph.
Though not groundbreaking, this recommendation system mirrors what other social networks employ. From Twitter's (now X) For You timeline to TikTok's For You page, Instagram Explore's zone, and Facebook's revamped News Feed, algorithms dictate the personalized content experience. This amalgamation of posts tailored to one's interests and the wider social connections crafts an engaging feed, tailor-made for each user.
Bluesky isn't alone in its pursuit of personalization; even the Mastodon app Mammoth has presented its personalized For You feed, striving to create a sense of familiarity for Twitter transplants exploring alternative microblogging social networks. Meta's Threads, a competitor in the Twitter clone domain, followed a similar trajectory by initiating an algorithmic feed before finally catering to the demand for a reverse chronological timeline.
The driving force behind this shift to algorithmic feeds is compelling — research demonstrates their superior engagement. A recent study, conducted with Meta's cooperation, found that users exposed solely to reverse chronological feeds spent significantly less time on Facebook and Instagram. The allure of algorithmic feeds lies in their capacity to captivate users, leading to their widespread adoption as the default experience across various social platforms, despite the occasional user demand for a more rudimentary "Following" feed.
Nevertheless, Bluesky's approach to algorithmic feeds differs in a crucial aspect: it doesn't impose its algorithmic feed on users. Instead, it offers this as an optional feature, allowing users to make their own choices.
Emphasizing algorithmic choice, Bluesky grants users the liberty to unpin feeds that don't resonate with them and discover and install new feeds that align with their interests. As described in a Bluesky blog post, users can easily swap out the Discover feed with any custom feed they prefer. Back in May, Bluesky had already introduced custom feeds, enabling users to subscribe to feeds with distinct algorithms or themes. These feeds, akin to Twitter Lists, can be pinned to the "My Feeds" menu in the app's sidebar for quick access. Among the initial offerings were the "What's Hot" feed, showcasing trending content, and the "What's Hot Classic" feed, which highlighted posts with a mere 12 likes, a concept better suited to a smaller network.
As time progressed, users crafted numerous custom feeds tailored to various content types — from science, dog pictures, gardening, to art and beyond. Some feeds facilitate alternative perspectives of users' social graphs, such as mutuals feed or feeds comprising solely of photos posted by people they follow. The feed customization options extend further, aligning content based on users' likes, creating an enthralling and diversified content experience.
Despite Bluesky's innovative approach to algorithmic choice and its foundation on a decentralized networking protocol, it faces apprehensions about its future as a Twitter clone. Criticism has repeatedly surfaced, especially concerning its moderation practices, with instances of racial slurs slipping through. Moreover, Bluesky continues to operate on an invite-only basis while encountering a formidable rival in Meta's Threads, which achieved 100 million users at an unprecedented pace. Although Bluesky reached its first million installs this month, its user base remains limited, closed off from the public. This situation poses a time-sensitive predicament, potentially missing the opportunity to attract the niche audience seeking alternatives to Twitter. Negative headlines regarding its Trust & Safety capabilities only compound the challenge.
In summary, Bluesky's endeavor to deploy custom feeds and algorithmic choices may hold promise, yet its potential impact could be constrained if the app remains exclusive, unwelcoming to marginalized users, and facing robust competition that drives users elsewhere.
