Unlocking Social Innovation: Explore the Top Apps Revolutionizing Experiences on the AT Protocol Beyond Bluesky

Bluesky, a burgeoning social network, has rapidly gained popularity since its public launch a year ago, amassing over 33 million users. This platform, developed on the innovative AT Protocol (or ATProto), is paving the way for a new open social web, fostering the development of numerous applications that work collaboratively to enhance user experience and data control.

Bluesky and the AT Protocol: A New Era of Social Networking

Last weekend, developers from various applications built on the AT Protocol gathered at the inaugural ATmosphere conference in Seattle. This event was dedicated to discussing the future of ATProto, the challenges ahead, and the strategies for creating a vibrant social app ecosystem. Participants could join in person or online, engaging in talks and discussions via a dedicated Discord community.

Revolutionizing Web 2.0 with Open Technology

The AT Protocol community is committed to reconstructing Web 2.0, the previous iteration of the social web, which encompassed social media platforms, blogs, wikis, and other collaborative services. Unlike its predecessors dominated by tech giants, the new applications are built on open technology, promoting greater user autonomy and data ownership.

As the first service to emerge from this new wave, Bluesky is setting a precedent, with many more applications on the horizon. Below is a curated list of consumer-facing apps leveraging the AT Protocol, designed to empower users in reclaiming their social networking experiences and personal data.

Top AT Protocol-Based Applications

Photo and Video Sharing Apps

• Flashes: An Instagram alternative that offers users the ability to upload multiple photos or videos and includes features like photo filters and curated artist feeds.
• Spark: A video-centric app that supports a range of features including longer videos, filters, and eventually, livestreaming capabilities.
• Skylight Social: Built on Bluesky, this app features likes, follows, comments, and is currently in testing for iOS and Android.
• Pinksky: An alternative photo-sharing app focusing on classic Instagram functionalities, available on both iOS and Android.
• Bluescreen: A forthcoming app designed for sharing videos within the Bluesky network.
• Videos for Bluesky: A user-friendly app for browsing Bluesky videos in a TikTok-like format.

Livestreaming Services

• Streamplace: The first livestreaming service on AT Protocol, Streamplace recently showcased its capabilities by livestreaming the ATmosphere conference.

Feed Builders and Aggregators

• Graze: A platform for creating and managing customized Bluesky feeds, with monetization options available.
• Surf: Flipboard’s newest app that enables users to build custom feeds across various platforms, including Bluesky and Mastodon.
• SkyFeed: A web-based client for managing Bluesky feeds, offering a TweetDeck-like experience.

Communication and Discovery Apps

• Germ: An end-to-end encrypted messaging app that emphasizes user control over shared data and integrates with Bluesky.
• Roomy: A peer-to-peer messaging app that utilizes the AT Protocol for social discovery, currently in alpha testing.

Social Trends and Analytics

• Dazzle.fm: A site that organizes Bluesky data into categories, helping users identify trends across different topics.
• Sill: A link aggregation service that keeps users updated on discussions from alternative social media platforms.
• Frontpage: A decentralized link aggregator that supports upvoting and commenting on posts shared across Bluesky.

Alternative Clients

• Skeets: An accessibility-optimized alternative to the main Bluesky app.
• Deck.blue: A TweetDeck-style web app for managing multiple Bluesky accounts and feeds.

Event Management and Blogging Tools

• Smoke Signal: An event and RSVP management tool built on AT Protocol, allowing users to create and manage events while maintaining data privacy.
• White Wind: A Markdown blogging service for AT Protocol that integrates seamlessly with Bluesky posts.

Analytics Tools

• BlueSkyHunter: A growth and analytics toolset for tracking trends and popular content on Bluesky.
• Fedica: An online dashboard for scheduling posts across multiple social networks, including Bluesky and others.

This list is a work in progress, and new applications are continually being added. If you have suggestions or want to share your app, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

For more information on the evolving social media landscape, check out our related articles on social media trends and open web initiatives.