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Jack Dorsey Just Launched a Messaging App That Works Without the Internet
In a world where constant connectivity is treated as a given, the idea of sending a message without the internet feels almost unthinkable. Messaging apps have become so embedded in everyday life that few people stop to consider how dependent they are on cell towers, cloud servers, and centralized infrastructure quietly working in the background. When those systems fail, whether due to natural disasters, political unrest, overcrowded networks, or censorship, communication often collapses with them. That vulnerability is exactly what has drawn attention to a new and unconventional project from Jack Dorsey, a tech founder who has long questioned how much control centralized platforms should have over human connection.
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Earlier this summer, Dorsey introduced Bitchat, a free, open source messaging app that does not rely on the internet, Wi Fi, or cellular service at all. Instead, it uses Bluetooth connections between nearby devices to form decentralized, temporary networks that allow people to communicate directly. Dorsey described the app as a simple weekend project, but the reaction suggests something much larger is unfolding. Supporters see it as a bold step toward resilient and private communication, while critics warn that its security promises may be premature. As conversations around surveillance, privacy, and digital fragility grow louder, Bitchat has quickly become a flashpoint for a much deeper debate about how communication should work when modern infrastructure cannot be trusted or simply is not there.
A Messaging App That Works Without the Internet
Bitchat is built on the idea that messaging does not need to pass through centralized servers or depend on a permanent internet connection to function. Instead of routing messages through the cloud, the app relies on Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking, a system where each device becomes both a sender and a relay. Messages move directly between phones, hopping from one device to another until they reach their destination. This creates a local network that exists only among people who are physically nearby.
According to a white paper published by Dorsey on GitHub, the goal is to create communication that is private, resilient, and independent of centralized infrastructure. Dorsey writes that “bitchat addresses the need for resilient, private communication that doesn’t depend on centralized infrastructure.” He explains that by leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking, the app “enables direct peer to peer messaging within physical proximity, with automatic message relay extending the effective range beyond direct Bluetooth connections.” In theory, this allows messages to travel farther than a single Bluetooth connection would normally allow.
Traditional Bluetooth connections usually work within about 100 meters, but Dorsey claims Bitchat can extend that range to roughly 300 meters, or 984 feet, when enough devices are connected. The more people using the app in one area, the stronger and wider the network becomes. While similar offline messaging tools have existed before, Bitchat’s arrival has drawn attention because of its creator and the broader implications of a communication system designed to function without the internet at all.
Why Decentralization Is Central to Dorsey’s Vision
Bitchat fits neatly into a pattern that has defined much of Dorsey’s work over the past several years. After stepping away from Twitter, he increasingly focused on decentralized systems that reduce reliance on large platforms and centralized control. His support for Bitcoin, open source development, and decentralized social networks reflects a consistent belief that modern digital systems are too fragile and too easily influenced.
In his writing about Bitchat, Dorsey frames the app as a response to those concerns. He emphasizes that it is meant to function even when centralized infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or compromised. The project was reportedly built with the help of Goose, an open source AI coding assistant developed by his company Block, reinforcing the idea that this was an experimental and exploratory effort rather than a polished commercial product.
By calling Bitchat a weekend project, Dorsey appeared to downplay its significance, yet the philosophy behind it is anything but casual. It reflects a growing belief that communication tools should not depend entirely on corporations, governments, or permanent connectivity. Instead, they should be able to function at a local, human level, even when larger systems fail.
How Bitchat Works in Real World Use
Using Bitchat feels very different from using traditional messaging apps. There are no phone numbers, no contact lists, and no invitations to send. When users open the app, they are immediately connected to a local network made up of other nearby devices running Bitchat. A number at the top of the screen shows how many people are currently in that network.
Tapping that number reveals a list of nearby users, each identified only by a chosen name. Messages sent in the main chat are visible to everyone in the network, creating a shared space for group communication. Users can also tap on a specific name to start a private conversation away from the main chat, allowing for one on one messaging without broadcasting to everyone nearby.
Connections are temporary and based entirely on proximity. When someone enters the physical range of the network, they appear. When they leave, they disappear. This means Bitchat is not designed for long distance communication or maintaining ongoing conversations across cities or countries. Instead, it works best in environments where people are physically close together, such as festivals, conferences, protests, or emergency situations where traditional networks are unreliable or overloaded.
Minimal Features With Intentional Design
Bitchat is notably bare bones compared to mainstream messaging apps. There are no emojis, stickers, voice messages, or cloud backups. The simplicity is intentional and reflects the app’s experimental nature and focus on core functionality rather than convenience or entertainment.
That said, Bitchat does include a few distinctive features. Users can block others instantly, start private chats, and send playful interactions such as hugs or slaps, which generate humorous system messages. One detail that has drawn particular attention is the app’s screenshot notification feature. If someone takes a screenshot of a conversation, the app announces it within the chat, making everyone aware that a capture has occurred.
This feature reinforces transparency and consent in a subtle but meaningful way. At the same time, the lack of familiar tools can make the app feel unfinished to some users. Bitchat does not attempt to replace existing messaging platforms. Instead, it presents itself as a tool for specific situations where immediacy, proximity, and resilience matter more than polish.
Security Promises and Clear Warnings
Security is where Bitchat has faced the most scrutiny. Dorsey describes the app as end to end encrypted and censorship resistant, using the Noise Protocol Framework to secure communications. After a security researcher raised concerns about authentication vulnerabilities, Dorsey responded publicly and implemented changes to address the issue.
However, Dorsey has also been unusually transparent about the app’s limitations. On GitHub, he added a prominent disclaimer stating, “This software has not received external security review and may contain vulnerabilities and does not necessarily meet its stated security goals. Do not use it for production use, and do not rely on its security whatsoever until it has been reviewed.” That warning has been widely shared and discussed.
While Bitchat is open source, meaning anyone can inspect its code, security experts emphasize that independent third party audits are essential for tools that claim to protect private communication. Until such a review takes place, users are advised to be cautious about how and when they use the app, particularly for sensitive conversations.
Why Bitchat Is Resonating Now
Despite its unfinished nature, Bitchat has generated significant attention because it taps into a growing sense of unease about modern communication. Internet outages, overwhelmed networks, and concerns about surveillance have made people more aware of how dependent they are on systems they do not control.
Bitchat offers a glimpse of an alternative, one where communication is local, temporary, and less reliant on centralized infrastructure. It is not a solution to every problem, but it raises important questions about resilience and autonomy in digital spaces. For some users, it represents freedom. For others, it highlights the trade offs that come with decentralization, including fewer features and greater uncertainty.
What makes Bitchat compelling is not what it currently is, but what it suggests might be possible. It challenges the assumption that communication must always flow through massive platforms and distant servers.
A Small App With Big Implications
Bitchat is unlikely to replace mainstream messaging apps in the near future. Its range is limited, its features are minimal, and its security has yet to be fully validated. Yet its impact may extend far beyond its current user base.
By releasing Bitchat quietly and openly acknowledging its flaws, Jack Dorsey has reignited a conversation about how communication works when the internet disappears. The app serves as a reminder that connection does not have to depend entirely on centralized systems, and that alternatives, however imperfect, are worth exploring.
Whether Bitchat evolves into something larger or remains a niche experiment, it has already achieved something meaningful. It has forced people to pause and consider a simple but powerful question. What happens to our ability to connect when the networks we rely on are no longer there.