Bluesky opens the protocol to outside services

Bluesky just launched Protocol Services, a feature that lets third-party companies run services on the AT Protocol without needing to be Bluesky itself. Feed generators, search engines, moderation tools — any of these could run as outside services on the network.

The pitch is straightforward: open the protocol so the ecosystem can grow beyond one company. It's a move that fits a bigger trend in social media toward decentralization, and it sounds good on paper. But the real question is whether anyone outside will actually build on it, or whether it'll just be another feature no one uses.

Why this matters for us: If Bluesky actually decentralizes, it could mean more control over our own feeds and data — which is something we've been asking for.

Why this matters for us: The real test is whether the protocol stays open once people start using it, or whether Bluesky still holds the keys.