Breaking Free from Traditional Models
Frustrated with the current state of social media and the influence of billionaires on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta? You’re not alone. In a bold move that could reshape the social media landscape, tech leaders and nonprofit executives have united under the “Free Our Feeds” banner, launching an ambitious campaign to liberate social networks from what they term “billionaire control.” At the heart of their vision lies the AT Protocol, the open-source technology currently powering Bluesky, which promises to democratize social media infrastructure.
- Establish a public-interest foundation to support Bluesky’s underlying technology, the AT Protocol, fostering its independence and global standardization.
- Build independent infrastructure, such as a second “relay,” to guarantee Bluesky users and developers uninterrupted access to data streams, regardless of corporate decisions. This relay is effectively a backup index of all content on the network that ensures developers and users can access posts even if Bluesky restricts access to its data.
- Fund developers to create a vibrant ecosystem of social applications built on open protocols, fostering healthier and more equitable online spaces.
The “Free Our Feeds” campaign is driven by three primary goals:
The campaign aims to safeguard Bluesky’s technology from being controlled by any single company or billionaire, ensuring that the power remains in the hands of the users. The group envisions an open social media ecosystem that cannot be controlled by a single entity, including Bluesky itself.
What is Bluesky Social Network?
Bluesky is a microblogging social media service similar to Twitter, where users can share short posts containing text, images, and videos. It is owned by Bluesky Social PBC, a benefit corporation based in the United States. Bluesky began in 2019 as a research initiative at Twitter, becoming an independent company in 2021.
How is Bluesky Different from Other Social Media Platforms?
What sets Bluesky apart is its focus on decentralization and user control.The platform is built on the open-source AT Protocol, which aims to create a more open and interoperable social media ecosystem. Bluesky’s mission is to foster a “thriving online commons” that can’t be controlled by a single entity. This approach is designed to address many of the concerns users have with traditional, centralized social media platforms, such as censorship and algorithmic manipulation.
Bluesky’s decentralized approach means that the network is made up of multiple, interconnected servers (or “instances”) that can communicate with each other. This allows for greater flexibility and resilience, as the network is not reliant on a single point of failure.
Potential Benefits of a Social Media Free from Billionaire Control
A social media landscape free from billionaire control could offer several potential benefits:
- Increased user control: Users would have more control over their data and how it is used.
- Reduced censorship: A decentralized network would be more resistant to censorship, as no single entity would have the power to control the flow of information.
- Greater innovation: A more open and competitive environment could lead to greater innovation in social media, as developers would be free to experiment with new features and platforms.
- Healthier online spaces: By giving users more control over their feeds and fostering a more diverse ecosystem of social applications, the campaign aims to make social media a “healthier and happier place.”
One of the key proponents in this movement, Robin Berjon, compares social media to public roads. He suggests that if control over social media is concentrated among a few entities, it could negatively impact society, like how having all roads owned by one or two individuals who control access and impose tolls could be problematic.
Challenges of a Social Media Free from Billionaire Control
Despite the potential benefits, a social media free from billionaire control also faces significant challenges:
- Network effects: Established platforms like Meta and X have a large user base and benefit from network effects, making it difficult for new platforms to compete.
- Financial resources: Competing with the vast financial resources of established platforms is a major hurdle for decentralized social networks
- User adoption: Convincing users to migrate from established platforms to new, decentralized platforms can be challenging.
Public Reaction to the “Free Our Feeds” Campaign
The “Free Our Feeds” campaign has garnered support from various individuals and organizations, including actor Mark Ruffalo, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and Mozilla Foundation president Mark Surman. The campaign’s message of freeing social media from billionaire control appears to resonate with many users who are dissatisfied with the current state of social media.
Looking Ahead
The “Free Our Feeds” campaign’s success could pave the way for a new era of social media where users have more control, freedom, and ownership over their online interactions. However, significant challenges lie ahead. The success of this campaign will depend on various factors, including widespread user adoption, the ability to attract developers, building a supportive ecosystem of applications, and the long-term sustainability of the AT Protocol and Bluesky.
As this movement gains momentum, it raises an important question: Are we witnessing the beginning of a fundamental shift in how we connect and communicate online?
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this grassroots effort can transform from an idealistic vision into a viable alternative to billionaire-controlled social media. Regardless of the outcome, the campaign has already succeeded in sparking an important conversation about ownership, control, and democracy in our digital public spaces.
Technical Appendix
What is the AT Protocol?
At the heart of the “Free Our Feeds” campaign lies the AT Protocol (Authenticated Transfer Protocol), a decentralized social networking framework. It allows users to control their own data and connections without relying on a single company or server. The AT Protocol aims to create a decentralized, interoperable, and scalable online ecosystem where users can retain, manage, and customize a single federated online identity across various online platforms and services 7. Bluesky Social describes the protocol as being “modeled after the open web itself”.
The AT Protocol utilizes a dual identifier system: a mutable domain name handle and an immutable decentralized identifier (DID). Handles serve as user-end identifiers and are verified by querying a domain’s resource records.
How Does the AT Protocol Work?
The AT Protocol has a federated network architecture, meaning that account data is stored on host servers, as opposed to a peer-to-peer model between end devices. Federation was chosen to ensure the network is convenient to use and reliably available. Repository data is synchronized between servers over standard web technologies (HTTP and WebSockets). The three core services in the AT Protocol network are Personal Data Servers (PDS), Relays, and App Views.There are also supporting services such as feed generators and labelers.
One of the key features of the AT Protocol is data portability, which makes it easy for users to move their data between different providers. Users can manage their data as they see fit and take their online identity with them without sticking to one service.
When you create an account on a network that uses the AT Protocol, you’re not just signing up with that service—you’re establishing a personal, decentralized identity. Unlike traditional social media, where one company owns everything, AT Protocol allows different platforms (or “instances”) to work together while allowing users to choose where to connect. The protocol ensures each instance can operate independently but still interact smoothly with others through a shared set of rules.
References
1. Free Our Feeds campaign launches to ‘liberate social media’ through new ecosystem, https://readwrite.com/free-our-feeds-campaign-launches-to-liberate-social-media-through-new-ecosystem/
2. Bluesky users launch campaign to stop billionaires taking over – Indy100, , https://www.indy100.com/news/bluesky-free-our-feeds-elon-musk
3. Free Our Feeds, https://freeourfeeds.com/
4. Campaign aims to protect Bluesky’s tech from billionaires – Silicon Republic, accessed January 16, 2025, https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/bluesky-tech-billionaires-free-our-feeds-fundraiser-gofundme-campaign-at-protocol
5. Canadian tech advocates join movement to free social media feeds from billionaire control, accessed January 16, 2025, https://betakit.com/canadian-tech-advocates-join-movement-to-free-social-media-feeds-from-billionaire-control/
6. What is AT Protocol (Authenticated Transfer Protocol)? – Comparitech, accessed January 16, 2025, https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/what-is-at-protocol/
7. en.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Protocol#:~:text=The%20AT%20Protocol%20aims%20to%20create%20a%20decentralized%2C%20interoperable%2C%20and,after%20the%20open%20web%20itself%22.
8. AT Protocol – Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Protocol
9. Protocol Overview, https://atproto.com/guides/overview
10. en.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky#:~:text=Bluesky%20is%20a%20microblogging%20social,Bluesky%20logo%20since%20December%202023
11. Bluesky – Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky
12. What is Bluesky Social? X Competitor Explained – StoryChief, https://storychief.io/blog/bluesky
13. Free Our Feeds Initiative to Establish Bluesky’s Public-Interest Foundation, Away From Billionaires – Tech Times, https://www.techtimes.com/articles/309075/20250114/free-our-feeds-initiative-establish-blueskys-public-interest-foundation-away-billionaires.htm
14. Freeing Social Media from Billionaire Control: A $30M Plan for a User-Owned Digital Ecosystem – https://eutoday.net, https://eutoday.net/freeing-social-media-from-billionaire-control/