The following sentences were all translated from Japanese to English using DeepL. I apologize for any unnatural points.
Now, I'm developing TOKIMEKI, the ultimate Bluesky multi-column client, and I'm also keeping an eye on the current state of Bluesky and the AT Protocol.
I am aware that users are engaged in intense discussions regarding the new Bluesky Terms of Service announced recently. I would like to share my thoughts on the matter.
Before that, I'd like to share my current thoughts on the recent regulations restricting minors' access to social media enacted in the UK and the US state of Mississippi. Frankly, I must admit I haven't fully grasped the reasoning behind them.
This is because I've been taught since childhood about freedom of communication and freedom of expression. I've always believed these are rights for all of us living in a democratic society, regardless of whether we're children or adults.
I understand that perspectives on this have been diverging among countries lately, but as a Japanese person, I still struggle to grasp the practical effectiveness of these laws. I'll leave this topic here for now.
Now, to the point: rather than beating around the bush, let's get straight to the heart of the matter.
Namely, the question is: “Even if banned from Bluesky, can it continue to exist on other AT Protocol platforms?” In other words, is this truly a decentralized platform?
Jay, CEO of Bluesky, says that even if we get banned from Bluesky, we still have the right to choose another option.
We knew from the start we can’t get everything right. Moderation is a hard problem, and it’s impossible to please everyone. So we built a protocol where you always have the right to leave. If you don’t trust us, or don’t like our decisions, you deserve the right to choose an alternative.
However, we mustn't confuse ideals with reality. What she says may be true, but merely sustaining life is different from being able to continue activities. For now, getting banned on Bluesky essentially means the “death” of your account.
Social media is fundamentally a place for communication. Its meaning lies in connecting with people. If no one is looking up at the sky, and you're flying alone in a Zeppelin airship, no one will notice you. Of course, even if you caused an explosion, most people probably wouldn't notice.
In this regard, I think it's understandable that most people would view the AT Protocol decentralized platform as little more than a theoretical concept that makes little sense to them and is difficult to grasp—at least for now.
If you're not a tech expert well-versed in decentralized platforms, this stuff means nothing. After all, if no one is watching, there's no point in using social media.
However, precisely because of this, what I wish to propose is the relative advantage of these actions being performed by users.
In other words, if you get banned on X, it means the complete death of your account. In that sense, the situation isn't much different from what happens on Bluesky.
However, you may be able to retain your data and continue your activities by using an alternative platform or creating one yourself.
You're probably thinking, “I know that, but I just said it's practically dead since nobody uses that platform.” You're right.
I'm not mocking you.
The conclusion I've reached so far is that “it's a matter of comparison.”
In other words, AT Protocol, which can sustain life, is slightly better than the dying X. That's what it comes down to.
If you're barely hanging on to life, someone will save you. It might not be salvation for you, but if the environment is right, it could be.
And most importantly, your savior doesn't have to be a trillion-dollar player like Elon Musk; it could be an average salaryman with a typical annual income. I could be your savior too. It doesn't matter if you're a programmer or not. Just bounce your ideas off someone. Then someone can help you find a solution.
This is the tentative answer I've arrived at so far.
It might not feel quite right, but whether Bluesky becomes the only place in the AT Protocol ultimately depends on us.
Let's take action. Let's hop on the Zeppelin. Let's support the developers out there. You can't do that on X, but you can do it because it's the AT Protocol.
We can abandon Bluesky. We can rebuild social media ourselves. Why not?
Let me summarize once more. I believe Jay's statement is sophistry. But she's counting on us. She wants us to grow an alternative platform. To create an option. We can do that. It's precisely what AT Protocol can achieve. Something X and Elon can't do. Zuckerberg probably can't either.
Please actively share your opinions. Let's develop. Let's get developers moving.