Can Social Media Start Over with Bluesky's New Era Protocol?

The next era of social media might not be defined by a platform, but by a protocol. That's the bet Bluesky is making, and at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, two of its leaders, CEO Toni Schneider and COO Rose Wang, will make their case in person.

A New Era for Social Media

For founders building consumer products, the stakes couldn't be higher. If social media is entering a new era, it creates opportunities for entirely new products, business models, and communities to emerge.

Bluesky, along with many other scrappy platforms, is in a transitional moment. As the incumbents have entrenched themselves, Bluesky and similar platforms remain a test of whether networks built upon open protocols can retain communities and potentially claw market share away from competitors.

This is a critical moment for social media, and Bluesky's leadership is at the forefront of this shift.

• Toni Schneider, Bluesky's permanent CEO, has taken the reins after leading the company on an interim basis since March.
• Rose Wang, COO, has been with the company since 2021 and brings a wealth of experience in customer experience and product development.

A Focus on Users

Rose Wang's perspective on the rebuild is centered around users. She believes that there's an increasing need for human-to-human connection to return after a deluge of AI-filled feeds. This shift in user need gives Bluesky an opportunity to differentiate itself from the likes of Facebook and Twitter, which are now largely AI companies.

"Facebook and Twitter are huge, and they have tons of users, so for them to turn the shift is really difficult. Also, they're basically AI companies at this point," Rose said.

A New Era of Social Media

The next decade of social media will be shaped by open protocols and communities that prioritize human connection. Bluesky is at the forefront of this shift, and its leadership will be making their case at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026.

Join the conversation and learn more about how social media can start over with Bluesky's new era protocol. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of the next generation of social media.