Bluesky, the fledgling social media platform, is quickly making waves as disgruntled users abandon X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Since the U.S. elections, Bluesky has witnessed skyrocketing growth, adding over 1 million users just within the week following the elections. The surge brought its total user count to 15 million, up from approximately 13 million at the end of October.
Founded with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey at the helm, Bluesky initially operated under an invite-only system until early this year. This strategy allowed the platform to develop its features and moderation tools before being exposed to the public. The resulting product shares several characteristics with X, including both chronological and algorithm-based feeds, direct messaging, and the ability to pin posts. New users have also been welcomed with “starter packs,” which curate user recommendations and trending feeds, enhancing their experience upon entry.
The uptick after the recent election isn’t the first time Bluesky has seen massive user gains due to discontent with X. Earlier this year, amid political strife, Bluesky gained approximately 2.6 million new members when X faced bans in Brazil. These historical shifts demonstrate how current events continue to steer users from established platforms to promising alternatives.
Such growth follows trends where journalists, left-leaning politicians, and various celebrities—expressing frustration over X’s direction—turn to Bluesky for its lighter, advertisement-free atmosphere. Fans claim it has evoked nostalgia, reminiscent of Twitter's early days, which were defined by unfiltered conversation rather than heated political discourse.
Despite Bluesky’s remarkable expansion, X proudly declared its dominance over the global conversation during the U.S. elections, outlining how it set not just new records but also managed to sign up significantly more users, particularly on Election Day itself. They noted achieving record levels of engagement, compounded by over 942 million posts worldwide on the subject of the elections.
Yet, Bluesky maintains ambitions beyond being merely another social network. The platform aims to shake up traditional social media paradigms by fostering what it refers to as “a protocol for public conversation.” This effort seeks to champion the concept of interoperability across different social networks, allowing users to communicate and interact across platforms similar to how email, blogs, and phone calls function.
Under this model, users would be able to engage with friends on platforms like TikTok or Facebook without being left confined within the walls of their chosen network. By creating this connectivity, Bluesky hopes to challenge the existing business models of Big Tech, which have inherently operated as isolated ecosystems primarily focused on advertising revenue.
Amplifying this competitiveness, Bluesky made tongue-in-cheek comments during the election period, poking fun at its bigger adversary. One notable post read, "I can guarantee no Bluesky team members will be sitting with any presidential candidates tonight and managing what you see online." This dichotomy between the two platforms—one perceived as increasingly restrained and politically charged by CEO Elon Musk, the other striving for open communication—highlights the growing schism between users' preferences for digital spaces.
Notably, among the new members migrating from X, high-profile personalities like television journalist Don Lemon have expressed their discontent. Lemon voiced his frustrations over X’s terms of service changes, which could effectively limit litigation against the platform to conservative-leaning courts. This shift sparked concerns about fairness and free speech, underscoring Bluesky’s appeal as a refuge offering more flexibility with less structural baggage.
While Bluesky’s accelerated growth captures immediate attention, questions remain about the platform's long-term viability and the sustainability of its user base. If the aim is to innovate how conversations are facilitated online, then it’s clear the platform must continue to adapt amid the ever-changing social media environment. Not only must it compete with X's vast user engagement initiatives but also navigate the scrutiny associated with being set against such established giants.
This narrative of transformation—of old guard versus new innovation—will likely define the social media wars of today. The question of whether Bluesky can successfully chart its course remains to be seen, but for now, it appears to be carving out its niche at the expense of its predecessor.
