Rudy Fraser - BlackSky - Next Generation of Social Media
Dec 16, 2024
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In this discussion with Rudy Fraser, the mastermind behind BlackSky, we dive into his journey of creating a safe online space for Black communities on BlueSky. He shares insights on innovative moderation systems and community engagement strategies to combat online harassment. Rudy also tackles the technical challenges of scaling social media architecture and developing personalized feeds. Additionally, he explores sustainable funding models, highlighting his grassroots approach to ensuring financial stability while fostering a strong community ethos.
Rudy Fraser highlights the necessity of creating a safe space for Black communities to share experiences, particularly against anti-Black harassment.
Black Sky employs innovative safety tools and custom feeds that enhance user interaction while effectively managing content for the Black community.
As Black Sky scales, Fraser emphasizes the importance of sustainable funding and infrastructure to maintain user safety and community engagement.
Deep dives
Understanding Black Sky's Mission
Black Sky serves as a community for Black users on the Blue Sky platform, providing a space tailored to their needs and experiences. Rudy Fraser, the creator, emphasizes the importance of building a safe environment, particularly in the face of anti-Black harassment prevalent in public spaces. The initiative is rooted in community-centric principles, aiming to develop tools that enhance user safety while facilitating meaningful connections among members. The approach combines technical innovations with community organizing efforts, reflecting a commitment to empower marginalized voices.
Innovative Safety Measures
Safety tools are integral to the Black Sky platform, designed to protect users from harassment and toxicity. Custom feeds and composable moderation allow for effective content management tailored specifically to the Black community's experiences. Fraser developed unique features that enable swift action against harmful content, making the moderating process significantly more responsive than traditional platforms. Such innovations include specialized reporting tools and automated responses that collectively enhance user safety and community integrity.
Technical Innovations in Custom Feeds
Black Sky leverages custom feeds that allow users to curate content effectively, enhancing engagement and community interaction. Unlike typical social media experiences, Black Sky’s approach is characterized by flexibility, enabling users to shape their social media interactions. This capacity to create personalized feed algorithms fosters a space where Black experiences are prioritized and can be freely shared. The technical architecture behind this system allows for efficient data management while ensuring a rich, user-focused experience.
Challenges of Moderation and Scaling
As Black Sky gains popularity, the challenges of moderation have become more pronounced, particularly during events that attract high traffic. The experience of managing up to 1,000 moderation reports in a single day illustrates the pressing challenges involved in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment. Fraser discusses the necessity of implementing scalable infrastructure to keep up with increased demand while ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in moderation. This aspect of Black Sky underscores the broader challenges faced by community-driven platforms as they scale and grow.
Sustainability and Future Prospects
Sustaining Black Sky as a community platform involves exploring innovative funding models and community support initiatives. Fraser expresses a desire to move towards a structure that fund moderating efforts and potentially broaden Black Sky's impact within the decentralized social media landscape. In addition to traditional funding, creative solutions such as sponsored posts have been introduced, aiming to ensure that users can contribute positively to the platform's sustainability without compromising its integrity. As Black Sky continues to evolve, finding pathways to longevity while fostering community remains a central focus.
This week we're talking to Rudy Fraser, the developer behind BlackSky, a community he carved out of BlueSky. Using custom feeds, labelers and everything the platform has to offer, BlackSky offers a safe space for Black communities to share their stories and connect. In the process he's dealt with funding, scaling, and building out his own tools on top of ATProto, the tech behind BlueSky.