Bluesky Launches Its First Encrypted Messaging Application

The decentralized social media platform Bluesky has announced the integration of a new technology developed by the startup Germ Network to provide encrypted messaging between users directly within the app. This marks a first for social media platforms built on the “AT Protocol.”

According to TechCrunch, “Germ DM” is the first private chat service to operate natively inside Bluesky, highlighting the advantage of open platforms that allow developers to build internal features rather than limiting innovation to the parent company.

The feature enables users to add a messaging button to their profiles within a fully encrypted environment. Meanwhile, the standalone “Germ” app, currently in beta on iOS in North America and Europe, has recorded thousands of downloads and a fivefold increase in active users following the integration.

The California-based company, founded by researcher Tessa Brown and engineer Mark Shaw, aims to offer an alternative to platforms such as Signal, WhatsApp, and iMessage through more advanced encryption technologies.