Bluesky Unveils Invite-Free Viewing Option and a Butterfly Makeover

In a recent blog post by Bluesky CEO Jay Graber, the decentralized Twitter alternative announced a major shift in accessibility. Users no longer need an account or login credentials to peruse posts on the platform. This update enables effortless browsing of content both on the web and through the Bluesky app, marking a significant departure from the prior invite-only model.

Graber highlighted that while anyone can now seamlessly view posts, users have the option to discourage non-account holders from accessing their content by toggling a setting. However, Bluesky cautioned that this choice might not be respected by other apps, emphasizing that the platform remains open and public.

“This setting only limits the visibility of your content on the Bluesky app and website, and other apps may not respect this setting,” Bluesky stated in a note accompanying the toggle.

Notably, the platform also introduced a revamped logo—a butterfly, replacing the former depiction of a blue sky with clouds. Graber elucidated that the shift to the butterfly emblem stemmed from the organic use of the 🦋 emoji by users to denote their Bluesky handles, aligning with the platform’s ambition to redefine social media.

“The butterfly speaks to our mission of transforming social media into something new,” Graber remarked in the blog post.

Moreover, an intriguing observation by Parker Ortolani revealed a familiar animation on the app reminiscent of Twitter, distinct from X.

Despite concerns about potential marginalization due to the rising prominence of ActivityPub, supported notably by Meta’s Threads, Graber expressed optimism about Bluesky’s growing community and its rapid expansion. The platform’s unique AT Protocol, while different from ActivityPub, continues to foster an engaging and lively atmosphere.

“I’ve worried that Bluesky might get left behind, but every time I hop over to my Bluesky account, it seems like people are having a lot of fun—the platform seems to be growing quickly,” Graber acknowledged in the post.