Bluesky's unique features, particularly the ability to create custom feed generators, offer a valuable opportunity to study the interplay between human agency and algorithmic curation in shaping online discourse and information ecosystems. Researchers can leverage Bluesky's data to investigate how users' choices in selecting feed algorithms influence the content they are exposed to, the diversity of viewpoints they encounter, and the formation of online communities based on shared interests and preferences.
By analyzing user interactions with feed generators, researchers can explore how human behavior, such as content consumption patterns, engagement with specific topics, and customization of feed preferences, interacts with algorithmic recommendations to shape the information landscape on Bluesky. This analysis can provide insights into the role of user agency in content curation, the impact of personalized algorithms on information diversity, and the dynamics of content dissemination within specialized communities.
Moreover, Bluesky's platform architecture allows for the study of content virality, diffusion patterns, and information cascades within and across different feed generators. Researchers can investigate how content spreads through user-curated feeds, the role of influential users in amplifying information, and the mechanisms that drive the circulation of content within the platform. By examining the interplay between human actions and algorithmic processes, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of how online discourse evolves, information flows, and communities form in decentralized social media environments like Bluesky.