‘Free Our Feeds’ Plans Billionaire-Free Social App Network

A new initiative called Free Our Feeds is gaining traction as it seeks to build a decentralized social media ecosystem free from billionaire ownership. The campaign, spearheaded by a group of tech entrepreneurs, plans to raise $30 million over three years to develop a network of apps based on the AT Protocol. This open-source technology powers the Bluesky platform, an emerging alternative to X.

The AT Protocol offers users unique features, including full control over their data and the ability to choose from multiple algorithms to shape their feeds. Marc Faddoul, one of nine technical advisors to the project, emphasized that the protocol allows users to migrate seamlessly between accounts and platforms, providing flexibility and privacy not currently available on many mainstream social media platforms.

Bluesky, which launched publicly in February 2024, has already amassed over 23 million users and counting. While it currently remains the sole app operating on the AT Protocol, Faddoul acknowledges the risk of Bluesky becoming a “de facto monopoly.” The Free Our Feeds initiative aims to mitigate this by creating a broader ecosystem of apps using the same underlying technology.

The campaign’s immediate goal is to raise $4 million to establish an independent non-profit foundation that will oversee development. Technical advisors for the initiative include industry veterans from organizations like Mozilla and the Social Web Foundation.

As of now, the initiative has garnered over $67,000 in online donations. Faddoul believes the project comes at a pivotal time, given the ongoing shifts in the social media landscape and growing public demand for platforms less influenced by corporate and billionaire control.