Live from Austin Texas: The SXSW Film Festival BlueSky Panel: CEO Jay Graber

At South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 10, 2025, Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky, took center stage for a riveting panel discussion titled “The Future of Social,” where she tackled the evolving world of social media and shared her vision for a new digital era. The session was a must-see for anyone interested in the next frontier of social networking. Graber, who helped found Bluesky within Twitter (now X) in 2019, is leading the charge in building a platform that offers users something the big players don’t: true control over their online experience. Below photo of Jay Graber fielding a question during the panel discussion titled “The Future of Social” : Bluesky, with over 30 million users and growing, is on a mission to disrupt the status quo. Graber emphasized the platform’s core principle: user autonomy. With a decentralized structure, Bluesky lets individuals curate their feeds, engage with content that truly matters, and reclaim control from the algorithms that dominate traditional social media. The goal is clear—to create a more transparent, open, and secure system that empowers users rather than corporations. Below photo of Jay Graber giving an answer during the panel discussion titled “The Future of Social”    But it’s not all smooth sailing. In the panel, Graber acknowledged the challenge of balancing openness with security in a decentralized network. While Bluesky’s design gives users more freedom, it also opens the door to potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. Graber’s candid discussion about the ongoing efforts to safeguard users’ privacy and protect the platform from bad actors resonated with the crowd, many of whom are skeptical about the security of decentralized systems.  Bluesky’s approach, however, isn’t just about security—it’s about revolutionizing the way we experience social media. Graber highlighted how the platform’s focus on transparency and innovation sets it apart from the centralized giants. The emphasis is on creating a space where users can engage freely and authentically, without worrying about the exploitation of their data.  Graber’s keynote offered a bold vision for the future of social media, one that prioritizes autonomy, transparency, and security. Bluesky’s role in this movement is pivotal, and as the platform continues to grow, it’s clear that it could be the catalyst for a much-needed shift in the social media landscape. The SXSW panel left attendees buzzing with excitement about the potential of a decentralized, user-first internet, and it’s clear that Bluesky is leading the way. News Story by our Entertainment Today TV News Reporters: Nina Ameri and Jennifer Hutchins.