Bluesky Explained

Dec 18

Bluesky is a new kind of social media platform designed to give users more control over their online experience. It started as a project by Twitter but has now become its own independent platform. Bluesky is all about being more open, transparent and putting power back into the hands of its users instead of a single company.

Bluesky is trending because it’s different and feels fresh. It’s invite-only right now, which has made people even more curious. A lot of people are frustrated with how big social media platforms handle things like privacy, data and what they show in our feeds. Bluesky offers a new approach that’s catching people’s attention, especially those looking for something more private and user-friendly.

Bluesky gives the user more control. You can choose how your feed works, instead of relying on social media algorithms. Bluesky also offers better privacy – your data stays with you, not with the company trying to sell it. Bluesky also offers community moderation – instead of one company deciding what’s okay or not, it is up to the community of the platform to set their own rules.

Decentralization means no single company controls everything on the platform. There is no algorithm telling you what you should see. It is important and sets Bluesky apart because everything is more open, so you can understand how things work on the platform. Decentralization also allows you to choose your experience, you can customize your views to however you like.

Like any new platform Bluesky has hurdles to overcome like building their user base. It is still very small in comparison to bigger platforms like Facebook and Instagram. With more user freedom Bluesky has the challenge of ensuring harmful content doesn’t spread. Bluesky also faces the challenge of teaching new ideas – the platform needs more potential users to understand how it is different and why people should care.

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Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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