Rose Wang, the chief operating officer of Bluesky, expressed concerns during an interview at SXSW in London about the implications of government regulations aimed at protecting youth on social media. She emphasized that while regulation is necessary, it should not stifle innovation or favor larger companies over smaller ones.
Wang highlighted that excessive regulation could lead to a market dominated by only a few major platforms, which would have compliance teams significantly larger than Bluesky's entire workforce of around 40 employees.
Bluesky, which has grown to 43 million users since its inception in 2019, has faced challenges in maintaining its user base, experiencing a 40% drop in daily mobile active users over the past year. The Australian government's recent social media ban for users under 16, which requires platforms to implement age verification methods, sets a precedent that other countries are considering.
Wang advocates for a balanced approach to regulation that protects smaller players while holding larger tech companies accountable, suggesting that collaboration between regulators and smaller firms is essential for a healthy competitive landscape