Tarık Toros*

In the aftermath of the US general election, Bluesky has emerged not just as a successor to Twitter but as a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom of expression in an increasingly censored digital world. For users in Turkey — where authoritarian pressures have co-opted mainstream media and stifled dissent online — this new platform could be the lifeline they’ve been waiting for.

The platform’s story is rooted in the vision of Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter. The platform began as a project within Twitter in 2019 and became an independent company in 2022. Jay Graber has led Bluesky as CEO since August 2021, with Jack Dorsey formally exiting its management in May 2024.

I began following Bluesky closely after Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022. Musk’s sweeping changes to the platform drove many users to search for alternatives. Bluesky, operating on an invite-only basis throughout 2023, offered a fresh start to those disillusioned by Twitter’s transformation. When I joined in early 2024, my inaugural post — “Hello everyone” — felt like the first step into uncharted but promising digital territory.

Born from Twitter, Bluesky reflects Dorsey’s vision

Bluesky, shaped by Dorsey’s experience with Twitter, reflects a vision of what a platform should and shouldn’t be. It distinguishes itself with decentralized governance, user-controlled content, a privacy-first approach, and a resistance to censorship. Its infrastructure is designed to withstand attacks, though this resilience makes compliance with regulatory frameworks more complex.

Bluesky became a haven for users fleeing X after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency in 2024, bolstered by the overt support of Elon Musk. The platform now sees about 1 million new users joining daily. Despite the surge, Bluesky remains committed to its core principles: no ads or paid subscriptions, greater algorithmic control for users and no sharing of user data for AI development.

Currently, Bluesky allows posts of up to 300 characters, four images and 60-second videos. Many users hope these limits will expand, recalling Twitter’s former 140-second video feature.

Why platforms like Twitter are vital in Turkey

To understand why platforms like Twitter are indispensable in countries like Turkey, one must consider their role in providing access to information and amplifying independent journalism under oppressive conditions.

When Twitter launched in 2008, it had little influence in Turkey. But by 2013, it had become an essential lifeline during the Gezi Park protests. The Gezi Park protests, which began in May 2013 in Istanbul, started as a small demonstration against the planned destruction of a park to make way for a shopping mall.

However, it quickly escalated into a nationwide movement, fueled by public outrage over authoritarian governance, police brutality and the erosion of democratic freedoms under then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Protesters, spanning diverse political and social groups, used social media platforms like Twitter to organize and share uncensored information, as traditional media outlets either ignored or downplayed the unrest. With mainstream media either silenced or complicit, Twitter emerged as the hub for real-time updates, coordination and unfiltered news. Activists organized protests through tweets, while journalists, including myself, used the platform to share stories, images and videos we couldn’t publish elsewhere.

The Gezi protests marked a turning point. Twitter became the digital square where dissent thrived. I recall those days vividly — writing, posting and witnessing a chorus of voices countering the government’s narrative. It was liberating, but it came with risks. The platform’s ability to mobilize terrified Turkey’s government. With the Arab Spring toppling regimes, Ankara viewed Gezi as a warning sign. In response, the government unleashed paid troll armies, restricted internet access in protest zones and eventually banned Twitter outright in 2014. The public backlash was immediate. Even then-President Abdullah Gül used a VPN to bypass his own government’s ban and tweet.

Between 2013 and 2016, the government intensified its efforts to control Twitter. Court orders demanded content removal, troll farms manipulated discourse and dissenting accounts were inundated with threats. Despite this, Twitter remained a vital platform for activists, journalists and academics — those silenced by traditional, state-controlled media. Following the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, the government declared a state of emergency, further tightening its grip on freedom of expression.

To control Twitter, the government began forcing platforms to establish local offices, placing them under direct oversight and influence. Authorities also issued court orders to block accounts that voiced dissent or to remove posts critical of the regime. At the same time, they arrested users, creating an atmosphere of fear that discouraged others from sharing their views on the platform.

I experienced this firsthand. In 2016, I was informed that my account, @TarikToros, was the subject of a Turkish court order. Twitter, adhering to its transparency policy, shared the notice with me. I responded with the following plea, which led them to uphold my account’s visibility:

“I have reviewed the attached court order. I pose no threat to anyone’s life, safety, or property. Like thousands of my colleagues, I have lost my job; hundreds of others are imprisoned. The request to block my account lacks any legal, judicial, or ethical basis. I trust you will respect individuals’ right to be heard. Currently, I have no other platform to express myself. September 30, 2016.”

Twitter’s decision not to block my account highlighted the platform’s critical role as a space for free expression in authoritarian contexts. It became a lifeline for journalists like me and a tool for activists and citizens to organize, document abuses and share uncensored information.

Elon Musk’s X and the price of complicity

In May 2023, Turkey requested that Elon Musk block specific accounts on X from being visible within the country. Musk complied and later justified his decision tweeting “The choice is have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want?”

Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias? The choice is have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2023

In October 2024, X again complied with a Turkish request, this time blocking 177 accounts, including mine. Without offering any opportunity to respond, X sent me a vague email referencing a court order. A few days later, I received a document labeled a “judicial decision,” but it lacked details about the reason for the block or the content in question.

The arbitrariness of the process was staggering. Transparency had vanished and decisions appeared driven more by expediency than principle. My YouTube-based platform, MoonStar TV, was also targeted, although it had already been inaccessible in Turkey for years. The randomness and lack of accountability highlighted the collapse of X’s once-proud commitment to free expression.

What the future holds

Bluesky’s rise offers hope but poses challenging questions: Can it withstand the pressures that weakened Twitter? In countries like Turkey, where authoritarian regimes demand censorship, Bluesky’s resilience will face serious tests.

Currently, Bluesky thrives as a vital platform in North America and Western Europe, drawing users disillusioned with X. As it seeks to reclaim spaces for independent journalism and free expression, the next few months will reveal whether it can fulfill its promise in a world where the silenced urgently need a voice.

One thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher for platforms like Bluesky to deliver on their mission.

*Tarık Toros is a well-known journalist and political commentator currently living in exile in the UK. He was formerly the editor-in-chief of Bugün TV, which was seized by the Turkish government in 2015 and subsequently closed down. Toros co-founded MoonStar TV, a YouTube platform dedicated to providing independent journalism for Turkish-speaking audiences. Through his personal channel and other platforms, he analyzes political developments, governance, and social issues in Turkey.