Introduction

In an intriguing development for the social media landscape, the up-and-coming platform Bluesky, which aims to rival X (formerly Twitter), is making waves with the announcement of a paid subscription service known as Bluesky+. The company revealed its initial plans for this subscription model back in October, during the unveiling of its impressive $15 million Series A funding round. Recently, recent mockups showcasing the potential features of Bluesky+ were published on the platform's GitHub.

Preliminary Features and Mockups

While the company has cautioned users that these mockups represent only preliminary concepts and that the final offerings may change, several features seem to be under serious consideration for this new premium subscription. According to a blog post from last fall, Bluesky indicated that subscribers could expect perks such as enhanced video quality and customizable profile features, including unique colors and avatar frames. These very features have now been reflected in the Bluesky+ user interface mockup.

Additional Features and User Verification

Additional placeholder text in the mockup suggests a range of enticing features that may also be offered under the Bluesky+ umbrella. These could include customized app icons, a Bluesky+ profile badge, inline translations for posts, advanced analytics, and the organization of bookmarks into folders—features that could position Bluesky+ as a formidable competitor to X.

One highly discussed aspect is the potential for Bluesky to offer user verification (profile badges) as part of its subscription package. However, the company insists that their approach to verification could differ significantly from the paid systems used by X and Meta, grounding it in the open nature of their platform. Even so, it remains to be seen if any verification features will ultimately find their way behind a paywall.

Pricing and User Engagement

The cost for Bluesky+, as indicated in the mockup, is tentatively set at $8 per month or $72 annually, although this pricing is not finalized.

User engagement on Bluesky surrounding this news has been palpable. A post from user @saeri.xyz, who spotted the UI mockup, garnered hundreds of likes and shares, showcasing the growing interest among the platform's 24.7 million users.

Official Statements and Future Revenue Models

To temper excitement, Bluesky engineer Dan Abramov, known for his previous work on React and Redux at Meta, chimed in on the discussion, emphasizing that the presented features should not be considered an official list of what will ultimately be released. "Some of these are likely to make it, but please don’t take this as an actual list of planned features," he stated. He added that the “coming soon” label is merely part of a user interface test for upcoming enhancements.

While the potential subscription service is capturing attention, it is not the sole revenue model Bluesky is pursuing. CEO Jay Graber has hinted at several other business strategies, including the sale of domain names, a marketplace for algorithms, and even the possibility of introducing advertisements to generate revenue for the platform.

Conclusion

As the excitement builds, Bluesky users eagerly await further clarity on Bluesky+, hoping for an array of features that could enhance their social networking experience. Stay tuned for updates as the company continues to refine its plans!