Jack Dorsey, a key figure in the tech industry and the former CEO of Twitter (now X), has officially departed from the board of Bluesky, a decentralized social network he helped found.
Dorsey’s exit from the board was confirmed through a straightforward exchange on X, where he responded “no” to an inquiry about his continued involvement with Bluesky. His departure comes without a public explanation, as he chose not to respond to follow-up questions regarding his decision to leave.
The exact timing of Dorsey’s departure remains unclear. As of Sunday morning following his confirmation, Bluesky’s corporate FAQ still listed him as a board member, though the company issued a statement later that afternoon updating his status.
In the statement, Bluesky expressed gratitude towards Dorsey for his foundational role in funding and initiating the project. The company stated, “We sincerely thank Jack for his help funding and initiating the bluesky project. Today, Bluesky is thriving as an open source social network running on atproto, the decentralized protocol we have built.”
Following Dorsey’s exit, Bluesky announced that they are in the process of seeking a new board member for the Bluesky public benefit company, emphasizing the importance of finding someone who shares their commitment to building a social network that empowers users to control their own experiences. The company promised more updates on this matter, signaling ongoing developments in its governance and strategic direction.
Bluesky has evolved significantly since its inception in 2019, when Dorsey, then at the helm of Twitter, launched it with the intention of creating an open and decentralized standard for social media. The initiative started with a small team, funded by Twitter, tasked with developing this new protocol. Since then, it has grown into an independent public benefit corporation, opened to the general public in February, and is led by CEO Jay Graber with backing from venture capitalists.
Interestingly, Dorsey’s personal engagement with Bluesky appeared to diminish over time; he deleted his Bluesky account last year, a move that was only briefly noted in scattered social media posts at the time. His broader social media behavior includes deleting his Instagram account and maintaining a significant presence on X.
Over a particularly active weekend on X, Dorsey engaged in discussions about the importance of self-reliance in defending rights through “freedom technology” and commented on a public dispute between musicians Drake and Kendrick Lamar. He also made notable changes to his following list, dramatically reducing the number of accounts he follows.
Related News:
Featured Image courtesy of Bloomberg via Getty Images