Decentralised Social Media is Getting a New Test in Acorn’s Bet

As X winds down its Communities feature and frustration grows over algorithm-driven platforms and automated moderation on Big Tech social networks, Acorn is betting that decentralised infrastructure built on the AT Protocol can shift control back to creators, giving them the tools to build, govern and scale their own online spaces without depending on the policy shifts or product decisions of dominant platforms

Acorn, a new platform built on the same decentralised technology underpinning Bluesky, is rolling out tools that allow creators and organisations to build and manage their own online communities, positioning itself as an alternative to centralised social media platforms such as X, Instagram and Threads.

The launch comes as X phases out its Communities feature, underscoring growing uncertainty around the longevity of group-based products inside large social networks and opening space for independent, creator-controlled alternatives.

Built by Blacksky, Acorn uses the AT Protocol developed by Bluesky to enable communities to create customised homepages, moderation systems, onboarding tools and tailored feeds, giving them more control over user experience and governance.

The platform is targeting a long-standing tension in social media: creators and groups rely on large platforms for reach but remain exposed to shifting algorithms, policy changes and feature removals that can abruptly disrupt their audiences.

Acorn is already being used by niche communities including Latinsky, Medsky and a filmmaker collective called The Invite, with early discussions underway with media organisations and non-profits, according to Blacksky.

Its tools include “starter packs” for onboarding new members, custom moderation systems, reputation features such as badges, and analytics dashboards that track engagement and growth.

Communities can also design topic-specific feeds, organise content into dedicated tabs such as announcements or events, and run moderation workflows that include reporting, account bans and post removals.

The platform can be deployed on custom domains, and pricing is tailored to usage, with average costs currently estimated at about $100 to $150 per month. Blacksky said it plans to move toward a tiered software-as-a-service model based on community size and tooling requirements.

At the infrastructure level, some users may also operate their own personal data servers under the AT Protocol framework, giving them deeper control over data and identity management.

The launch comes amid broader scrutiny of Big Tech social platforms, including concerns over opaque moderation systems, automated account bans and limited access to human appeals, issues that have fuelled demand for alternative, user-governed networks.

Acorn’s backers argue that decentralised social infrastructure could offer a more durable model for online communities by separating identity, moderation and hosting from single corporate platforms.

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