When Bluesky CEO Jay Graber took the stage at SXSW 2025 for her keynote discussion, she made a statement with her attire. At first glance, her simple black T-shirt and pulled-back hair might have seemed like an attempt to downplay her femininity in a male-dominated tech industry. However, there was more to her outfit than met the eye.

A closer look revealed that Graber’s shirt was actually a subtle yet clear nod to her company’s mission and values. The shirt’s design was reminiscent of one worn by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, but with a twist. While Zuckerberg’s shirt had declared “Aut Zuck aut nihil,” or “Either Zuckerberg or nothing,” Graber’s shirt read “Mundus sine caesaribus,” or “a world without Caesars.” This was a clear swipe at Zuckerberg and the centralized power structure he represents.

Zuckerberg has been known to compare himself to Julius Caesar, and his shirt’s phrase was a play on the Latin “aut Caesar aut nihil,” meaning “Either Caesar or nothing.” Graber’s response, on the other hand, suggested a world where such centralized power is not necessary. This sentiment is at the heart of Bluesky’s mission as an open-source social network.

Bluesky’s design reflects its commitment to decentralization and user empowerment. As an open-source platform, users have a transparent view of how the network is built and can even create their own alternatives if they disagree with the direction of the platform. Graber emphasized this point at SXSW, explaining that if a billionaire were to buy or take over Bluesky, users could simply “fork off” and create a new application.

This approach has already attracted users who are dissatisfied with Meta’s centralized model. When Meta implemented controversial updates, such as training its AI on public user posts or cutting its third-party fact-checking programs, Bluesky experienced significant growth. Users are drawn to the platform’s promise of transparency and community control.

Despite its growing popularity, Bluesky still has a long way to go before it can challenge Meta’s dominance. With nearly 3.5 billion daily active users across its platforms, Meta remains a formidable opponent. Bluesky, on the other hand, has around 33 million total users. However, as a fledgling social network, Bluesky has already made a significant cultural impact and is likely to continue to be a player in the social media landscape.

As Graber’s shirt so eloquently put it, Bluesky is working towards a “world without Caesars.” While it may not be possible to topple the Roman Empire of Meta overnight, Bluesky is certainly making strides towards creating a more decentralized and user-centric social media ecosystem. And as the old adage goes, Rome was not built in a day – but with persistence and dedication, even the most seemingly insurmountable challenges can be overcome.