Blacksky, a company building tools around the AT Protocol, launched Acorn in May 2026 — a platform that lets organizations and creators build and manage their own online communities independent of centralized social networks like X, Instagram, and Threads.
Acorn uses the same underlying technology that powers Bluesky, the decentralized social media app. Communities can deploy custom homepages, starter packs for onboarding new members, moderation tools, reputation systems, and analytics — all on their own domain. Pricing starts at roughly $100 to $150 per month, with a tiered SaaS model planned as the platform scales.
The launch comes as X recently shut down its Communities feature, leaving users scrambling to relocate their groups. Separately, a wave of automated account and group removals on Facebook and Instagram has left some users with no way to appeal, potentially pushing them toward alternative platforms. Acorn is already in use by AT Protocol communities Latinsky and Medsky, as well as a filmmaker group called The Invite, and is in discussions with media companies and nonprofits.
Blacksky originally built its toolkit to create safer online spaces for members of the Black Twitter community migrating to decentralized platforms. Acorn extends that infrastructure to other communities. “We didn’t plan to build out the full infrastructure stack we have now — a stack that provides complete independence of Bluesky. Each step was adaptive and based on community need,” said Rishi Balakrishnan, Acorn’s Lead Software Engineer, who noted the platform’s name draws from the fictional community in Octavia Butler’s 1993 novel Parable of the Sower.
The platform could appeal to creators and organizations seeking control over their communities rather than relying on tech platforms whose policies and algorithms can change without notice. Social media services are also facing tighter regulation in global markets, and user trust in ad-driven platforms has declined — context that may expand the potential audience for community-owned alternatives like Acorn. Those interested can join a waitlist on the Acorn website.
Source: TechCrunch