A new tool named Bounce is set to launch, enabling users to migrate their accounts from decentralized social media platform Bluesky to Mastodon without losing followers or posting ability on their original account.
While both Bluesky and Mastodon are decentralized networks, they operate on different protocols: Bluesky uses AT Protocol and Mastodon uses ActivityPub. Bridgy Fed, a cross-platform bridging tool developed by A New Social, the nonprofit behind Bounce, has previously allowed for broadcasting posts between the two platforms. Bounce builds upon this foundation by automatically bridging accounts for users who haven’t already set up Bridgy Fed before initiating the migration process.
The migration is achieved by shifting personal data servers and utilizing the inherent “move” functionality present in both ActivityPub and AT Protocol. Anuj Ahooja, CEO and Executive Director of A New Social, described Bounce as a “moving truck” for Bluesky users, allowing them to transfer their accounts and maintain their follower base and the list of people they follow when transitioning to Mastodon.
Crucially, if a Bluesky follower has also bridged their account with Bounce, they will automatically follow the user on Mastodon after the migration, eliminating the need for a manual re-follow. Ahooja told The Verge that “Folks on Bluesky will likely never even know you’ve Bounced to Mastodon.”
However, there are some current limitations with the beta feature. Interactions from Bluesky users who have not bridged their accounts will not be visible on the Mastodon side. A New Social is reportedly close to launching a feature that will provide notifications about these “off-bridge” interactions.
The migration currently only works from Bluesky to Mastodon. Moving from Mastodon to Bluesky is not yet possible because Bluesky presently only permits third-party tools like Bounce to “leave” their personal data servers, not to “enter or re-enter,” according to Ahooja. A New Social has engaged in discussions with Bluesky, which has indicated that expanding this functionality to allow migration in the reverse direction is on their future development roadmap.
A specific launch date for Bounce has not yet been announced.
