The annual conference of the Association of Internet Researchers is fast approaching! Scheduled for mid-October in Brazil, hundreds of Internet scholars (like me!) will convene to do what we do: share cat pictures.
Along with some other folks, I help run AoIR's social media. No, not just an account: we have our own social media, namely a Mastodon server. That server was created in the wake of Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter. I fully supported that move then, and I still think it was a wise decision to shift AoIR's posting from X to a fediverse server we control. We set our own Code of Conduct and manage it ourselves (with a bit of help from Masto.host).
But, in the intervening time, another microblogging system, Bluesky, as well as emerging independent ATProto systems like BlackSky have taken off, too. Some AoIR members have told me they're sticking with Bluesky et al.
Not a problem, says I! Why? Because we can have the #AOIR2025 conference conversations across all of these platforms -- thanks to The Bridge.
This post is a guide for my fellow AoIRistas who want to discuss #AOIR2025 and other topics across Bluesky and Mastodon and beyond. Plus, scroll down for a means to share your social media handles -- I can share this later with folks to help all of us connect.
How to Bridge the Conversation
The bridge I'm referring to is Brid.gy Fed, a system operated by A New Social, an organization advocating for open social protocols. They are building systems for both ActivityPub and ATProto. Those are both protocols to make interoperable social media.
Thanks for Brid.gy Fed, people on the fediverse and on Bluesky and similar systems can talk to one another. For example, I've been following Bluesky people, and they've been following me, for a year now.
If You're Not on Either Bluesky/BlackSky or Mastodon/the fediverse
To do this, you gotta join a service. As an admin of AoIR.social, may I humbly invite AoIR members to join our Mastodon instance? I think it's great!
Or, you can sign up for another fediverse system. (Contact me if you want help with this). Or you can join Bluesky, or newly emerging, compatible systems like BlackSky.
If You are On AoIR.social or Another Fediverse System
Go to Brid.gy Fed and login via the Mastodon icon. You'll need to give Brid.gy permission to read your posts -- this is similar to giving permissions to a client.
Once you do so, you can follow bridged Blueksy accounts. Give it a try with mine! Just search for @robertwgehl.org@bsky.brid.gy
If you are on Bluesky or BlackSky
Very similar process: go to Brid.gy Fed and login via the Bluesky icon. This also involves providing permissions to Brid.gy -- much like you would for a client.
Once you do, you can test it by following my AoIR.social account: @rwg.aoir.social.ap.brid.gy
If you are on X, Facebook, Instagram
You're outta luck. These companies don't allow for this. Sorry.
Once you've done this
If you're willing to, share your social media handle via this form. The form is hosted by me, and I will only share it with other AoIR members. I'll do it ahead of #AOIR2025 so we can all share during the conference!
