Bluesky has me
As someone who has increasingly come to dislike social media, I have surprised myself this week by signing up to one more platform. And not only that, but actually enjoying it. Bluesky has been around since 2019 when it began as a project inside Twitter. It’s now an entirely independent company (see here for more background info) and growing at a phenomenal pace since the US election.
Because of its Twitter roots, Bluesky feels familiar, but different, in a positive way. I left Twitter several months ago having, like many, become put off by the rampant unpleasantness. Plus my personal unease with anything to do with Elon Musk. But for many years I enjoyed it as a place to connect with people sharing similar interests. I initially joined Twitter back in the days of 140 characters when a French teacher at the time said I’d find it a good place to practise writing short phrases. I never used it for that, but did find a lot of writing and book things and people of interest. Then as schnauzers took over much of my online time, plenty of that too.
Schnauzerfest, the UK charity I run with a small and brilliant team started on social media. Facebook became the main connecting hub for walks. I opened the Twitter Schnauzerfest account 10 years ago and this week, the charity arrived on Bluesky. We haven’t closed our Twitter account, for now we’re allowing it a spell of dormancy as we decide.
While social media has many downsides, there are great positives. Schnauzerfest would not have got off the ground without it, let alone enjoy the incredibly generous, grassroots support it has today. An example from last month of how social media brings people together for a cause is a group of Instagram friends held their first fundraiser for the charity, organised through the social media platform. I wonder how long till the first Bluesky one takes place.
During these early days on Bluesky I’m reminded of all the things I used to enjoy about social media. No ads, lots of interesting people around who are keen to engage; curious and beautiful things being shared and an overall sense of wishing to connect in a nice and normal way. Bluesky has several ways to keep things as you want them. Plus tools to avoid timelines filling with what we don’t want and lots of what we choose to see. Here’s a good visual explainer of why it’s different.
It’s an interesting environment. I am learning as I go, both for my personal account and with the Schnauzerfest team. It seems that most are there finding their way. There’s a feeling we’re all in it together. It feels exciting. But it is also important to respect that it hasn’t just started since the recent influx of folk like me. People have been contributing to Bluesky’s development before our arrival.
As my years on social media have lengthened, my priorities have changed. I use my time on each platform differently. I rarely post much beyond dog related things on Facebook. On Instagram they’re there but so are book related things. And in my stories, 24 hours may find me sharing videos of owls (I love owls but not many on Facebook would know that), or flowers, or swimming, or cats, or quotes, poetry or any random other thing which catches my interest. If I continue to enjoy spending time on Bluesky I may roll all my interests into that one place. It might be time for a change.
If you’re on Bluesky, or tempted to join, now would be a good time. Come and enjoy the positive, vibrant, welcoming feeling it’s radiating.
You’ll find me @janetta-harvey.bsky.social and Schnauzerfest @Schnauzerfest.bsky.social
