Bounce Launches Cross-Network Account Migration for Bluesky, Mastodon, and Pixelfed

Bounce, developed by A New Social (the group behind Bridgy Fed), is an innovative migration tool that allows users to transfer their social relationships and connections between Bluesky, Mastodon, and Pixelfed. Launched in public beta, Bounce is designed for early adopters and enthusiasts interested in the open social web and interoperable social networking.

How Cross-Platform Migration Works

The Boom in decentralized social media platforms, like Mastodon (powered by ActivityPub) and Bluesky (built on the AT Protocol), has generated a demand for tools to move accounts—and crucially, social graphs—across different protocols. Previously, moving between Mastodon servers was possible, and Bluesky was developing migration within its own ecosystem. However, transferring between Mastodon and Bluesky was not feasible. Bounce removes this barrier by using bridging technology from Bridgy Fed, connecting user profiles across protocols and enabling a seamless transition.

Currently, Bounce lets users move from Bluesky to Mastodon or Pixelfed, but cannot transfer Mastodon accounts to Bluesky due to current infrastructure limitations on Bluesky’s side. When Bluesky supports inbound migrations, Bounce intends to offer full bidirectional transfer. It’s important to note: after moving away from Bluesky using Bounce, users lose access to Bluesky and any other AT Protocol-based login with their old credentials, underscoring the need for users to understand the commitment involved.

Real-World Need: The Mississippi Case Study

The urgency for cross-network migration became clear when Bluesky decided to block access to its service in Mississippi in response to a new, privacy-invasive age assurance law. This left affected users in the state without their established social channels, highlighting a significant weakness in fragmented social landscapes—and underscoring the value of migration tools like Bounce.

Deep Founder Analysis

Why it matters

For startups, platform portability means users aren’t locked into one ecosystem, which weakens the winner-take-all dynamics historically seen in social media. A new wave of tools, like Bounce, signals a shift toward user-controlled identity and community—making open networks more viable for new entrants. Founders should recognize that reducing switching costs may force incumbents to innovate on user experience rather than user captivity.

Risks & opportunities

An immediate risk: smaller networks could see user churn if established alternatives make migration easier. Opportunities, however, abound for builders to create value-added services—ranging from analytics tools to richer migration experiences. The broader opening of walled gardens could also inspire collaboration, cross-posting, and aggregation startups in the social web.

Startup idea or application

Inspired by Bounce, a startup could focus on an “identity portability dashboard” for users across decentralized media networks. Such a tool might incorporate migration, intertwined notification management, analytics, or even a reverse lookup for social contacts who change networks—giving users both continuity and agency as they navigate the growing fediverse.

Getting Started with Bounce

Bounce is currently targeting experienced users who are willing to experiment and provide feedback. As the service matures, it is expected to become a pivotal feature for advocates of user-centric, open web social experiences. However, users must read through the migration instructions carefully to avoid losing access to AT Protocol services.

Related Reading

Explore more about the future of platform interoperability and strategic moves in tech on Deep Founder’s blog, such as Google Doubles Down on ‘AI Phones’ and Meta Partners with Midjourney to Boost AI Image and Video Generation.

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