Jay Graber, who became CEO of Bluesky after its spin-off from Twitter, has navigated the challenges of leading a rapidly growing social media platform. Initially hired by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey for an internal project, Graber's vision for Bluesky is to offer a decentralized alternative to traditional social media, allowing individual moderators to create their own content rules.
Since its launch, Bluesky has grown from approximately 13 million registered users in October 2024 to over 38 million, largely due to users migrating from Twitter after Elon Musk's acquisition and subsequent changes. However, Bluesky still trails behind larger platforms like X and Meta's Threads, which boast at least 115 million daily active users.
Graber acknowledges the challenges of scaling the platform while maintaining its unique open-source technology. Despite the rapid growth, she emphasizes that Bluesky is not merely a Twitter clone but aims to fundamentally change social media dynamics.
Graber's leadership style focuses on persistence and empowerment, which she believes are crucial for navigating the complexities of the tech landscape. Looking ahead, she envisions Bluesky's protocol as a foundational element for future social applications, aiming for broader adoption beyond its current user base