In a world of billionare-owned social media,Italy Bluesky CEO Jay Graber wants to send a clear message. Decentralized open-source platforms, like the one she runs, prioritize user control over corporate interests.
And what better way to say that than with a T-shirt that calls out Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg?
Speaking at SXSW 2025, Graber wore a shirt that read Mundus sine Caesaribus("A world without Caesars" in Latin). It used the same design as the one Zuckerberg wore at Meta Connect 2024, a now infamous shirt that read Aut Zuck aut nihil("Zuck or nothing").
SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg wants to be like Augustus Caesar. How close is he?"If a billionaire tried to ruin things," Graber said of Bluesky, "users could just leave — without losing their identity or data.” Bluesky’s open protocol gives users the ability to "fork off" the network if needed, Graber added.
Bluesky, originally spun out of Twitter, has grown to over 32 million users. Its AT Protocol allows users to own their identities and their experience on the platform without Bluesky's permission.
"The key to what we’re doing is shifting power back to users and developers," Graber said. Bluesky isn’t just another social media app, she emphasized — it's a whole structural alternative to bigger platforms.
Graber drew a bright line between Bluesky and billionaire-owned social media in another key area: content moderation. Bluesky's opt-in approach lets users install third-party moderation services, filtering content to fit their preferences.
"Moderation is governance," Graber said. "It’s about choosing how you want your digital space to be governed.”
The Bluesky ecosystem includes apps from Flashes, a third-party photo-sharing service, to Flushing.im, a joke app for logging bathroom visits. "You can really build anything," Graber laughed.
Despite its ideals, Bluesky faces challenges. The company has said it is exploring subscription models, and developer services, in order to remain financially viable.
Graber remains optimistic that enough people want this service to keep it going in the long run. "We don’t think social media has to be inherently toxic," she said. "We want to give people real choice — not just a new platform, but a new paradigm."
Topics Social Media Bluesky
Don't buy the 'murder hornet' hypeElon Musk's X will soon remove public likesBest preorder deal: Buy a Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge laptop and get a free 50OnePlus offers a refund for OnePlus 12R 256GB phone after inaccurate UFS 4.0 claim · TechNodeNvidia hires exBest monitor deals: Get discounted Samsung monitors at AmazonMeta, Match Group, and more announce new antiMusk: SpaceX's Starlink internet service will work in highHow to turn off your iPhone 14NetEase to release martial arts title “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” in March · TechNodeMeta, Match Group, and more announce new antiChinese lidar maker Hesai to sue US Defense Department after blacklisting · TechNodeImpressive 'dueling' T. rex and triceratops fossils going on displayMicrosoft Edge will use AI to add realChipmaker onsemi posts record revenue on strong demand for ADAS and SiC chip · TechNodeTemu backs to Super Bowl with ad slots · TechNodeHuawei’s self22 best shows on Amazon Prime Video streaming free right now22 best shows on Amazon Prime Video streaming free right nowNearly 40% of web pages from 10 years ago no longer exist NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 9 Best outdoor deal: The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is just $174.99 at Target. NASA explains how one camera completely melted during a SpaceX launch Foxconn to invest $500 million in India for two new components factories · TechNode Google adds new AI Wordle today: The answer and hints for April 9 Foxconn’s EV platform unit targets India, Thailand to produce small EVs · TechNode Lava forces Hawaii to shut down geothermal plant and burn more oil Chinese automaker GWM launches fuel Why is Caravaggio so important to Netflix's 'Ripley'? Purdue vs. UConn basketball livestreams: How to watch live ‘Jurassic World’: What was the headbutting dinosaur who saved the day? Huawei’s Pangu LLM improves European weather forecasting · TechNode Miss the 2024 solar eclipse? Here’s when the next one happens. Best Xbox Game Pass deal: Get a year of Xbox Game Pass Core for $48.99 BYD wants to shelve its $1 billion investment in the Indian EV industry · TechNode The best wildlife livestreams you need to watch all summer Best free online courses from Stanford University Samsung Galaxy tablet deal: Get up to 40% off at Amazon Alibaba’s ModelScope attracts over 2 million developers amid AI frenzy · TechNode