Jay Graber, the chief executive of the social media platform Bluesky, is stepping down from her role as CEO and transitioning into a new position as their chief innovation officer, the company announced Monday.
Graber, who helped lead the decentralized social media network since its early development, said the change will allow her to focus more directly on technology and product development rather than the operational demands of running a growing business.
In a statement explaining the transition, Graber said the company has reached a stage where it needs leadership focused primarily on scaling and day-to-day management.
“I’m most energized by exploring new ideas, bringing a vision to life, and helping people discover their strengths,” she said. “Transitioning to a more focused role where I can do what brings me energy is my way of putting that belief into practice.”
The company named Toni Schneider as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement. Schneider previously served as CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress, and is currently a partner at venture capital firm True Ventures. Both organizations are investors in Bluesky.
Bluesky began as a project connected to Twitter in 2019 before becoming an independent company. The platform positions itself as a decentralized social network that allows users more control over moderation and content curation.
The platform’s rise in popularity accelerated after Elon Musk acquired Twitter—later renamed X—in 2022. Musk’s push for broader free speech on the platform prompted progressive users, journalists and activists to seek alternative social networks. BlueSky became one of the most prominent destinations for those users, with critics arguing the site quickly developed a reputation for overtly biased moderation and a community more inclined to exclude or report right-leaning viewpoints.
In recent years, the service has experienced rapid growth along with several operational challenges. One issue has been content moderation. As the platform expanded, it received a surge of reports related to user posts and behavior. At one point, Bluesky’s safety team reported receiving tens of thousands of moderation reports in a single day, far exceeding earlier totals.
The company has also faced regulatory challenges as several states introduced laws requiring social media platforms to verify users’ ages and implement protections for minors. In Mississippi, Bluesky blocked access to users in the state rather than immediately comply with the new requirements. In other states—including Ohio, South Dakota and Wyoming—the company has begun implementing age-verification systems.
Debates over speech and moderation have also shaped the platform’s public image. Journalist Jesse Singal wrote about receiving a barrage of threats and harassment on the platform because of his views on transitioning minors, contradicting the prevalent left-wing narrative. Singal said the messages included calls for violence and attempts to reveal personal information.
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