It is proprietary, only the Authenticated Transfer protocol is open. Thus far saying it is decentralized is a controversial topic, depends on the definition of dencentralization. A regular user can only hope to host a Personal Data Server, without any real or consequential power over the network, though. Relays are not practical to be hosted by anyone but huge companies. And even then, the content and data is still under absolute power of Bluesky.

For example, if a Mastodon server decides to censor something and you don’t agree with said decision, you can change servers and still access the content and participate on the Activity Pub stream. But, if BlueSky decides to censor you or someone else, you are out of luck. Even if you host you own server, the canonical repository of the network activity is under absolute power of BlueSky.

You could host your own AT network, but it is not clear how or even if it will be able to interact with other AT networks or the canonical BlueSky network.

Here’s some sources:

https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20241128-bluesky-decentralization

https://next.ink/158967/bluesky-est-il-decentralise/

https://tormentnexus.substack.com/p/is-bluesky-really-decentralized-its

It also differentiates it from Bluesky. It was just Twitter’s endeavor to spearhead decentralization, just like Threads. Jay Graber has Bluesky’s users by the balls and at their whims just like Musk has Twitter. Anything proprietary and for profit will always eventually enshittify. Threads was born already enshittified and Bluesky is on the early part of the curve.

It’s the same story as with all of VR. People don’t like to strap shit to their faces, or anywhere else in their bodies. We barely tolerate watches. Every single person who wears glasses would drop them in a second if any other viable and sustainable alternative shows up. People who use and love VR put up with the fact they have to strap stuff to their faces. 3D cinema failed financially because people didn’t want to have to use simple basic glasses. Not everyone can tolerate a third of a kilo on their heads for too long.

It’s way too heavy for that. Imagine that thing while operating for several hours. It’s a sure way of getting neck pain. Early laparoscopic optics used lightweight visors directly on the face, doctors were extremely weary. The tech was dropped almost immediately, instead they now project the image on a big TV screen. The Vision Pro is a non-starter at a surgery room, or even as a remote control for robotics.

There are ways of testing for these things that doesn’t involve millions of dollars in marketing events (they did flew a bunch of tech influencers to Cupertino) and millions more in manufacturing (factories are expensive as hell). Apple admitted themselves that the number of sales was even lower than their already limited expectations.

“I am being censored!” Screams man who owns media outlet and his every word gets covered by media and spread to every corner of the world.

You know, to make money in a gold rush, don’t dig, sell shovels.