Only the Bluesky is the limit: ten tips for a trending #Skytorial.

Abstract

Threaded online medical education first emerged on X (formerly Twitter) in early 2018 following the introduction of a threading feature in December 2017, with nephrologists quickly becoming enthusiastic adopters. However, changes like paid features and weakened content moderation have led many nephrologists and allied professionals to migrate to other platforms, which offer the potential for a more suitable environment for learning and discussion. The 2024 US presidential election and growing disillusionment with X has accelerated this shift. By late November 2024, Bluesky appears to have reached critical mass, and we propose that it will become a major social media platform in nephrology. To this end, we provide 10 tips to compose educational material for use on Bluesky. We suggest a clean break with regards to terminology and propose the term 'skytorial'. Starter packs can help rebuild networks on Bluesky. Skytorials need to be planned with thought given to audience and scope. The first post is important: like a hook in fishing, it needs to interest the audience and establish contact. Emojis and visual content can be used to generate interest. Skytorials need to be concise and less is often more. Tagging and the use of hashtags is important, as is a good take-home message. Finally, it is important to check the entire skytorial before posting it. The arena of social media is constantly evolving and the future is difficult to predict. However, given the rapidly growing popularity of Bluesky, we believe nephrologists should now explore the opportunities of the new platform.