In the last week, a certain social media company CEO said that his service will start charging a monthly fee to all users. Will this happen? IDK, he has expressed so much that came to pass and was immediately reversed or never happened at all. It’s time to start looking at alternatives for our community. 

The service I am advocating for is BlueSky. However, there appears to be a thriving community on Threads as well. I will focus on both of these services and what is going on with these services. 

 BlueSky

First, some issues with BlueSky are stopping it from being a much more extensive service. I got on the service in the last two weeks (Thanks to one of my favorite thongers) and found many underwear/gear lovers. Here are my issues with the service. 

1. It’s still basically in beta and is invite-only. To join, you need to get on the wait list or get an invite code from someone already a member. 
2. There are no DMs – Currently, there is no way to DM another member. There are workarounds, such as directing people to another social media site or Telegram. 
3. Can’t Post Videos – You can only post pictures and no videos. It surprised me that it was just static images. 

These are minor issues, and videos and DMs are on the roadmap for development. It’s still rough around the edges but will improve as the service matures. Remember Twitter back in the day? We didn’t have Hashtags, couldn’t host images natively, and the search was horrible. Also, the service will open up to more people. The floodgates will likely open once it is open to the public, and we will see more of our guys on the site. 

What I like about BlueSky

First, the service allows you to post NSFW content. There aren’t any rules against a VPL, showing a bulge, or even full-on nudity or sex. The key areas we all get dinged on are Meta services. All you have to do on BlueSky is click a button and choose what kind of “NSFW” content it is, and you are done. I hope they change this in settings sometime soon because sometimes I forget to tag it as “NSFW” and have to delete and repost it. 

Next, there is a lovely and interactive community on the service. Many of the guys I follow on Twitter still need to be added to the service, but the number of guys on the site has surprised me. Some of the guys have already left Twitter, and it was good to see them again. I have only had a few convos, but I have connected with guys I never got to chat with on Twitter because it’s still a small community. 

I would like to know if there is an algorithm for the feed. But I can see the people I follow and interact with them. Twitter’s feed seems jumbled to me and too busy. BlueSky has a more streamlined and minimal design for its site. 

I want to get more guys on the site and build a robust underwear/gear community on BlueSky. It’s my personal choice of where we should go and have conversations. 

Threads by Meta

Threads is a site that surprised me by the number of guys on the site and sharing underwear/gear content. When it launched, we all went and got our names and were skeptical due to the Mega rules that have hit so many guys. 

I went on the service for the first time in about two weeks and looked around. I noticed many guys with 1,000 followers, whereas on BlueSky, most guys are still in their 100s, with the rare exception. The like numbers were higher per post, as were the shares. 

The service has improved since its launch, and they have also added a web interface. I prefer to do my social for the site and store it through the computer because my workflow creates content. The web interface was a welcome addition for me. 

I have been posting more the past week and noticed I have good engagement. I am getting likes and reposts of my content. I am focusing all my effort on the store and blog through my UNB Tim account. It is pleasantly surprising that the jury is still out for clicks and traffic. 

The biggest issue is the rules for Threads are the same for Instagram. You will get in trouble for posting guys who have a bulge that is too big, a VPL, erections under underwear, nudity of the male form, and the list goes on and on. I have seen NSFW stuff on there, but if you lose your Threads account, you will also lose your Instagram account since they are tied together. 

Where should you go if you are tired of Twitter? 

I suggest you go to BlueSky if you can get on the wait list or an invite code. I like it, and the potential is there, and it will eventually tie into more social sites. However, if you can’t get on BlueSky, Threads is an option. Just run your images very PG-rated. Keep it very safe for work. 

As for other sites, Hive for underwear is dead. I log on now and then, but the exodus from Twitter, when it was sold, died down, and not many posts there anymore. Whereas Mastodon never took off for underwear. It needs to be simpler to set up and find people to follow. 

If you have a favorite service, let me know. I would love to hear about how people are using other services. 

There has been an unwritten rule in buyers’ heads on what exactly is men’s underwear. It has to conform to these rules; if it deviates, those aren’t for “real men.” 

1. Underwear is made from certain fabrics – Cotton, some spandex, but nothing wild like mesh, lace, or satin. 
2. Men’s underwear should perform a function rather than fashion, such as compression gear for the gym and cotton undies for everyday wear. 
3. There should be no bold colors. It should only be “masculine” colors—white, black, Navy, possibly burgundy, but nothing too wild. 
4. They should pass the gym test. The gym test is to change in the locker room and have no one raise an eyebrow about what you are wearing. Do not draw attention to yourself.
5.  Significant other test – The underwear should never raise a question about your sexuality. You never want your partner to question if you play for the other team. 
6. There are only a few acceptable styles – The only acceptable styles for most guys are boxers and boxer briefs. Briefs are a maybe, but nothing else. 

These rules are aimed at the general public across the sexual spectrum. Since the 90s, we have put men in a box and said, “These are your options.” The only change to that is now it’s acceptable to wear UA gear to the gym.

You may be asking yourself, why are we posting these? Because we are experiencing a shift in the world of men’s underwear. I have been contacted by more straight men rejecting those rules and wearing what they want.

Guys across the sexual spectrum are fed up with only a few options when women have had so many options for feeling sexy, working out, and just relaxing at home. Thongs are rising in popularity, not just regular thongs, made out of the non-masculine materials of lace, silk, and satin. 

It’s time we have no rules for men’s underwear and let other guys wear what they want without judgment. We all have things we don’t like, but we shouldn’t shame or look down on those who wear those things. We need to support one another and encourage those who step out of their box.