A New Social has introduced an enhanced version of its Bounce tool, Bounce 2, which aims to improve the portability of user accounts across various open social media platforms. This update specifically allows for the transfer of social networks from Mastodon to Bluesky, building upon its existing capabilities for migration.
Enhanced Interoperability: Bounce 2 Bridges Mastodon and Bluesky Networks
In a significant move to bolster the open social web, the nonprofit organization A New Social officially unveiled Bounce 2, the latest iteration of its innovative account migration tool, on October 8, 2025. This beta release, set to become fully operational on October 20, 2025, now enables users to transfer their entire social graph from Mastodon to Bluesky. This development represents a crucial step towards achieving seamless interoperability between different decentralized social platforms.
Initially launched in August 2025, Bounce was designed to facilitate the migration of user accounts between various open social services. The core philosophy behind Bounce is to empower users, ensuring they are not confined to a single platform due to its evolving features, terms of service, or content moderation policies. Instead, users can freely move their digital presence, taking their connections with them.
The open social web encompasses a diverse ecosystem of underlying technologies, known as protocols. Prominently, ActivityPub powers platforms like Mastodon, Threads, Flipboard, PeerTube, and Pixelfed. In contrast, the AT Protocol forms the foundation for Bluesky, Skylight, and other emerging social applications. These protocols traditionally do not interact directly, necessitating bridging tools to connect them.
Bounce’s technology is an evolution of Bridgy Fed, another tool that already allows users to make their profiles on one service visible to users on another. Previously, Bounce supported migrating Bluesky accounts to a bridged account that linked both networks, and subsequently to a Mastodon account. With the introduction of Bounce 2, this capability is now reversed, permitting Mastodon users to transfer their social graph to Bluesky or integrate it into an existing Bluesky profile.
It's important to note some distinctions in the migration process. When moving from Bluesky to Mastodon, if the Mastodon account already has a bridge in place, follower lists will be merged rather than entirely replaced. However, when migrating from Mastodon to Bluesky, users' original posts and content will not be transferred, a difference from the reverse migration. A New Social emphasizes that services like Bluesky and Mastodon should serve as entry points to the open social web, not as restrictive ecosystems. They believe individuals should have the freedom to choose technologies that best suit their needs while maintaining their social connections, regardless of the platform.
Bounce 2 is scheduled for a full launch later this month. Users interested in supporting A New Social's mission can contribute through their Patreon page or by purchasing merchandise from their online store.
This advancement by A New Social, through the development of Bounce 2, highlights a growing commitment to user autonomy and freedom within the digital landscape. In an era where centralized social media platforms often dictate user experience and data control, tools like Bounce offer a refreshing alternative. They empower individuals to retain ownership of their social networks and choose platforms based on their preferences, fostering a more decentralized and user-centric online environment. This initiative sets a precedent for how future social interactions might evolve, prioritizing user choice and open standards.
