Bluesky rolled out an update in May 2026 that brings long-form content to its platform, integrating with Standard.site — a community project that enables articles, blog posts, and newsletters to be published on the AT Protocol, the same underlying technology that powers Bluesky.
With the update (v1.122), Bluesky users can now browse content from AT Protocol-compatible publishing platforms including Leaflet, pckt, and Offprint, which are designed for independent writers and publishers. These articles initially appear as dynamic link cards — enhanced previews — with Bluesky noting the feature will be improved over time.
The integration means long-form content isn’t merely linked from within Bluesky; it exists as data on the AT Protocol itself, making it accessible from any compatible app. WordPress announced a similar plugin earlier in May 2026, also built on Standard.site’s framework, allowing any WordPress site to publish directly into what Bluesky calls the “Atmosphere” — the wider network of AT Protocol-powered apps.
This is the second time Bluesky has expanded its capabilities by incorporating a community-built project. In February, private messaging startup Germ became the first such service to launch directly from Bluesky’s app through a comparable integration.
The move contrasts with X’s approach to long-form content. X offers its Articles feature, but restricts it to paid subscribers and business accounts, and the content remains confined to X’s platform. Bluesky’s model is built around open, portable data that users can access across multiple clients and move between personal data servers — options now offered by providers including Eurosky, Blacksky, and Northsky, in addition to Bluesky’s own.
Bluesky currently has approximately 44.5 million registered users, compared to X’s 550 million monthly active users. The v1.122 update also includes a refreshed GIF picker and photo viewer, expanded account-level moderation labeling, and a fix for a bug that was silently dropping some iOS video uploads.
Source: TechCrunch