Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has stepped down from the board of Bluesky, the decentralized social media network he helped conceive and fund. The departure, confirmed by Bluesky on May 5, marks a significant shift in the platform that Dorsey launched during his tenure as Twitter’s CEO.
Dorsey’s exit came shortly after he tersely replied “no” to an inquiry on social media platform X about his current involvement with Bluesky’s board. The reasons behind his resignation remain undisclosed, with Bluesky representatives merely pointing to their public post for details.
This development follows Dorsey’s active participation on X, where he has been promoting grants for open interest protocols. Despite his critique in April 2023 of Elon Musk’s management of X, Dorsey appears to have maintained a connection with Musk, as evidenced by his limited follow list that includes high-profile figures such as Musk, Stella Assange, and Edward Snowden.
Bluesky, which Dorsey announced in 2019, aims to set a new standard in social media with its open, decentralized approach. Despite its ambitious vision, the platform only moved to beta testing in March 2023 and became available to the public on February 7, 2024. Currently, it boasts approximately 5.6 million users.
As Bluesky searches for a new board member, the tech community is abuzz with speculation about the future direction of the platform and what Dorsey’s departure signifies for decentralized social media.