Engineering

We’re starting to launch the block function update

Engineering

Soon we’ll be launching a change to how the block function works.

If your posts are set to public, accounts you have blocked will be able to view them, but they will not be able to engage (like, reply, repost, etc.).

The Land of X is becoming more barren.

It’s so bad that I’ve made some graphics and art. (The X logo, Twitter Bird, and Bluesky logo were found with Google Images.)

▼View images

So I’m going to write a guide on how to move from X to Bluesky.

Why is the change so bad?

I explained this in 2 other articles.

▼View the articles

Twitter's E𝕏odus

People are very unhappy with Twitter (aka 𝕏).

https://paragraph.xyz

Twitter/X plans to remove the block button

This might be the end of Twitter, or the end of a sane Twitter.

https://paragraph.xyz

Time to leave X

Download your data package

There may be ways to look through your data package in the future, so I would recommend going to Settings -> Your Account -> Download an archive to download the X data package. It will take at least a day for them to send you the email with your package, but it will contain your ENTIRE history on X up to the point at which you requested the archive.

Create your Bluesky account

Go to https://bsky.app to make your account. All you need is an email address.

You can also choose between my starter packs. They contain different subsets of users, and all of them will sign you up to Bridgy Fed which effectively means you exist on Bluesky AND Mastodon. Learn more about Bridgy Fed.

My starter packs have science/tech users and artists, and there’s also a variety pack.

Tell your followers about Bluesky

Some of your followers may find you on Bluesky if they are already there. However, you should also spread the word about Bluesky so that your followers who haven’t left can begin onboarding as well. I would also recommend making starter packs of your own or sharing the starter pack you used to join Bluesky if you used one.

(possibly) DESTROY your X account

If you have no plans of ever using X again and you have already acquired the data package from earlier, you may opt to deactivate your X account. Unlike the name suggests, deactivation is a PERMANENT process. Your handle will be released after the grace period, for the event you ever decide to return (unless someone steals your handle). Once deactivation starts there is a 30-day grace period and your account will be destroyed after this period.

Missing post notifications?

If you used X’s post notifications or services like UnfollowMonkey or fllwrs.com that provided unfollow notifications, then I would recommend using SkyAlert, a bot that I developed to fulfill those purposes on Bluesky. Its code is open-source on GitHub.

In conclusion

I’m sad to have to say this since Twitter has been the town square of the Internet for a long time. I will not be deactivating my account at this point. If you want to learn more about Twitter’s controversies, you can see my other blog posts. This has been Bit, and I’ll see you next time.