// privacy controls

Source: TechCrunch

Bluesky is fragmenting the AT Protocol's core value proposition—network effects through algorithmic discovery—by letting individual users opt out of being surfaced to strangers. This creates a "private by default" alternative to Twitter's engagement-maximizing model. Creators want the reach benefits of public platforms without the performative overhead, but letting users hide from discovery undermines the discovery feed's utility for platforms and other users hunting for fresh voices. Other AT Proto apps can ignore this opt-out, signaling early protocol governance tensions that will intensify as different clients prioritize different user incentives.