I’m interested in Bluesky and AT Protocol... which is why I’m on Micro.Blog

I’m increasing intrigued by what’s happening with the AT Protocol and Bluesky. I’m finding myself on Bluesky more often as the user base grows. I like the basic concept of storing your data on a personal data server (PDS), with social apps filtering relevant data from a “firehose.” I’m fascinated by the idea of using the AT Protocol as a foundation of open science and academic publishing, even if I have lots of questions. I like where Standard.Site is going. Eurosky is doing interested things with some different AT Protocol apps.

And that’s why I’m sticking with Micro.Blog.

I’m interested in Bluesky, but I don’t have the bandwidth right now to tinker with all of it. Micro.Blog creator Manton Reece has built a platform that interfaces with everything with an open API.¹ Bluesky rolls out support for Standard.Site. Manton supports it. Bluesky starts to allow 12 pictures, Manton supports it. I’m not quite ready to spin up my own PDS, so hosting everything on Micro.Blog gives me the next best option.

The reality is that AT Protocol advocates see a world where everything is based on their vision of the open social web. I like their vision, but I’m not sure we’ll ever have one dominate protocol. (And as Dave Winer points out, Bluesky isn’t 100% billionaire-proof yet.) It’s best to cast a wide net and bet on interoperability. I host everything with Micro.Blog on bobwertz.com, but my content automatically crossposts to Bluesky (plus Threads and Mastodon).

And that’s why Micro.Blog is the perfect solution for people who want to experiment with different platforms, but maintain a centralized web presence. Manton’s built something amazing at Micro.Blog and I’m still surprised how few people know about it. Plans start at $5/month, but I pay $10/month for the premium plan, which includes multiple blogs, email newsletters, an alternative social media feed that allows me to follow people on Mastodon, bookmarking, an RSS reader, short video hosting an independent Goodreads alternative, and more. I can use it with desktop apps like MarsEdit and Ulysses. It’s phenomenal, and the best solution for me as we collectively figure out what’s next in social media.

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Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.