How ATproto's Protocol Design Prevents Platform Enshittification
By
Tue, Jan 27th 2026 10:40am - Mike Masnick
Summary
The article discusses ATproto (the AT Protocol), which powers Bluesky, as a technological solution to prevent platform "enshittification" — the process where platforms degrade user experience over time to extract value. The author, who is on Bluesky's board and wrote the influential "Protocols, Not Platforms" paper, argues that ATproto's architecture includes built-in portability, open federation, and algorithmic choice that acts as a "killswitch" against platform degradation. The piece connects this to the broader Resonant Computing Manifesto vision of technology that empowers users rather than extracting from them, positioning ATproto as a practical implementation of these principles.
Source
bskyHow ATproto's Protocol Design Prevents Platform Enshittificationtechdirt.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe response was gratifying—people are genuinely hungry for an alternative to technology that extracts from them rather than empowers them.
ATproto isn't just another protocol — it's designed with enshittification resistance baked into its core architecture.
The key insight is that when users have genuine portability and choice, platforms compete to serve them rather than trap them.
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