Emerging
May 28, 20261
50%
Bluesky Launches Long-Form Content Integration to Compete with X Articles
Bluesky has integrated long-form content capabilities through Standard.site, allowing users to read articles and blog posts from across the AT Protocol ecosystem, positioning itself as an open alternative to X's paywalled Articles feature. The integration represents Bluesky's broader vision for an interoperable social web where content remains data on an open protocol rather than siloed within a single platform.
Quick Facts
Who
Bluesky
What
Bluesky rolled out app integration with Standard.site for long-form content
When
Thursday (May 28, 2026)
Where
Bluesky platform
- Bluesky rolled out app integration with Standard.site for long-form content
- Long-form articles, blog posts, and newsletters now accessible via dynamic link cards
- WordPress announced plugin for publishing to the Atmosphere
- AT Protocol ecosystem enables open content distribution
- Germ private messaging service integrated into Bluesky in February
Bluesky has rolled out a new app version that integrates long-form content capabilities, positioning itself as an open alternative to X's paywalled Articles feature. On Thursday, the decentralized social network unveiled integration with Standard.site, a community project built on the AT Protocol that powers Bluesky, allowing users to read articles, blog posts, and newsletters from across the wider ecosystem of AT Protocol-powered applications known as the "Atmosphere."
The integration initially displays long-form content as dynamic link cards—enhanced previews that provide expanded information beyond standard links. Content hosted on platforms including Leaflet, pckt, and Offprint, which serve independent writers and publishers seeking content ownership and wider distribution, will be accessible directly within Bluesky's app. The company indicated this represents a first step, with plans to improve the functionality over time.
This expansion demonstrates Bluesky's strategy of leveraging community-built tools within its ecosystem. In February, the platform similarly integrated Germ, a private messaging service, directly into its app. By building on the AT Protocol infrastructure, Bluesky enables third-party developers to access its 44.5 million registered users while maintaining the open-web principles central to its vision.
The long-form content rollout follows WordPress's announcement earlier this month of a plugin enabling WordPress sites to publish to the Atmosphere. Unlike X's siloed approach, which restricts long-form Articles to paid subscribers and businesses while confining content within its platform, Bluesky's model allows data to exist independently on the AT Protocol, accessible from any compatible client application. This represents Bluesky's broader vision for an open social web where users retain data ownership and can switch between personal data servers at will.
While Bluesky's open approach contrasts sharply with X's centralized model, X maintains a significant distribution advantage with 550 million monthly active users compared to Bluesky's 44.5 million registered users. The updated Bluesky app (v1.122) also includes a refreshed GIF picker and photo viewer, expanded account-level moderation labeling, and a fix for iOS video upload issues.
Topics
Why This Matters
This move represents a fundamental shift in how social platforms approach content distribution. By enabling open, interoperable long-form content through the AT Protocol, Bluesky challenges X's centralized, paywall-dependent model. For users, this means potential greater control over content ownership and platform portability; for independent writers and publishers, it offers wider distribution channels without platform lock-in. This sets a precedent for building alternative social infrastructure based on open standards rather than proprietary silos.
Timeline & Sources
May 28, 2026
WireBluesky v1.122 rolls out with Standard.site integration for long-form content