Empowering the People: How the ATProto Community is Redefining the Web Beyond Caesars

Over the weekend, the inaugural in-person AT Protocol conference, dubbed the ATmosphere Conference, took place in Seattle, bringing together developers, engineers, and founders dedicated to building on the ATProto technology. This framework powers the popular Bluesky social network, which boasts over 33 million users. Attendees had the opportunity to meet face-to-face for the first time, having previously connected only online.

Focus on the AT Protocol

While Bluesky is currently the most significant application utilizing ATProto, the conference’s emphasis was on the protocol itself and its broader potential. The ATmosphere Conference explored various applications beyond social networking, including creating diverse communities and enabling a unified sign-in experience across multiple platforms using the OAuth authentication standard.

Empowering Users in the Digital Landscape

The central theme of the event was user empowerment, focusing on restoring control over personal data, algorithms, and overall online experiences. With over 150 participants, both in-person and virtually, the conference aimed to shift the balance of power from billionaire tech moguls back to everyday users.

• Promoting decentralization in social networking
• Encouraging community-driven development
• Learning from past failures of social platforms

CEO Jay Graber’s remarks resonated strongly with attendees, as she emphasized the need to reclaim power from centralized platforms that dominate our digital lives.

Insights from Industry Leaders

Among the speakers was Blaine Cook, a key figure in developing the OAuth standard and a former Twitter lead developer. He reflected on his experiences at Twitter, which he described as having been “corrupted by capital and a lack of imagination.” Cook compared the current decentralized social web to a jungle, chaotic yet organic, where various protocols like ActivityPub and Nostr coexist.

Community Building and Support

Emotional presentations highlighted the importance of community. For instance, BlackSky founder Rudy Fraser discussed using ATProto to create safer social media environments for marginalized groups, including Black users migrating from Black Twitter.

Conference attendees also addressed challenges faced by the trans community in navigating open social platforms. Ændra Rininsland shared her experiences with moderation and the importance of creating supportive networks for vulnerable populations.

Building a Safer Online Future

Erin Kissane, a content strategist, joined the conference remotely to discuss the significance of incorporating diverse perspectives in community-building efforts. She urged developers to prioritize the safety of vulnerable groups, stating, “If you can keep the most vulnerable people safe, you can keep everyone safe.”

Looking Ahead

As the conference concluded, many attendees felt inspired to continue their collaborative work. The event fostered connections, leading to ongoing discussions and project development in the dedicated Discord community.

Tessa Brown, co-founder of the secure chat app Germ Network, expressed the unique atmosphere of the conference compared to other tech events, highlighting the thoughtful approach attendees took regarding past lessons and future possibilities.

For more insights into the future of decentralized technology and community-driven social networks, stay tuned to updates from the ATmosphere Conference and explore related resources on TechCrunch.