Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Takes a Jab at Mark Zuckerberg with Witty Latin Phrase T-Shirt at SXSW

At SXSW 2025, Bluesky CEO Jay Graber made a bold statement during her keynote discussion, embodying the essence of her innovative open-source social network. Dressed in a striking black T-shirt, she took a stand against the traditional norms of tech leadership while simultaneously challenging the dominance of Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

Graber’s Provocative Statement

At first glance, Graber’s attire might seem like a nod to the common practice among women in tech to downplay femininity. However, her shirt is a powerful message aimed directly at Zuckerberg. While he has likened himself to Julius Caesar, Graber’s shirt boldly proclaims, “Mundus sine caesaribus,” translating to “a world without Caesars.” This clever play on words mirrors the style of Zuckerberg’s own shirt, which declared, “Aut Zuck aut nihil,” meaning “Either Caesar or nothing.”

The Vision Behind Bluesky

Bluesky is designed as a decentralized social network that champions transparency and user control. Graber emphasized this commitment during her SXSW talk, stating:

“If a billionaire came in and bought Bluesky, or took it over, or if I decided tomorrow to change things in a way that people really didn’t like, then they could fork off and go on to another application.”

Key Advantages of Bluesky’s Open-Source Model

• Transparency: Users have insight into the platform’s development.
• User Empowerment: The ability to create alternative applications ensures user choice.
• Community-Driven: Existing applications within the network offer various ways to engage.

Bluesky vs. Meta: The User Landscape

Despite its innovative approach, Bluesky faces significant competition from Meta, which boasts 3.35 billion daily active users across platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. In contrast, Bluesky is nearing 33 million users, showcasing a remarkable growth trajectory since Meta’s controversial updates that have alienated many users.

Growing Cultural Impact

Bluesky has managed to carve out a cultural niche as it challenges the established social media giants. Graber’s leadership and the platform’s unique features have led to increased user interest, particularly as Meta’s strategies have led to public discontent.

While the path to outpacing Meta may be long, Bluesky has already made significant strides. As Graber aptly put it, “Rome was not built — nor was it toppled — in a day.”

For more insights on social media trends and the future of decentralized networks, visit our Social Media Insights page or explore external resources like TechCrunch.