Social media platform Bluesky is experiencing remarkable growth, gaining over one million users just after the recent U.S. presidential election. This surge is part of what many are calling an exodus from X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, under its new owner Elon Musk. Disenchantment with X's direction and increasing reports of hate speech and misinformation have driven users to look for alternatives, and Bluesky has positioned itself as the appealing refuge they seek.
On Wednesday, Bluesky announced it had surpassed 15 million users, up from about nine million just two months prior. The platform, which was created by Twitter's co-founder Jack Dorsey back in 2019, has garnered increasing attention and users dissatisfied with what they perceive as X’s rightward shift since Musk took over.
Dorsey's foray with Bluesky has attracted individuals seeking a social media experience away from the toxic atmosphere associated with X. Prominent figures like billionaire Mark Cuban, who actively campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris, have made their own transitions. Cuban posted on Bluesky on Tuesday, greeting his followers with "Hello Less Hateful World," capturing the sentiment shared by many newcomers who view Bluesky as more humane.
The transition of users to Bluesky has been observable, especially since the election results, with the platform seeing more than 700,000 new users just last week alone. By comparison, those migrating from X have contributed to alarming drops; nearly 115,000 X users deactivated their accounts the day after the election, marking one of the largest single-day declines since Musk took the helm.
Many users cite Musk’s close ties with President-elect Donald Trump and the prevailing harsher tone on X as pivotal reasons for their migration. With reports surfacing of Musk planning to watch election night with Trump, Bluesky cleverly quipped on their platform, ensuring users knew none of their team would provide direct access to control online views, unlike the skepticism surrounding X.
The mass shift to Bluesky isn't just anecdotal; The Guardian, for example, publicly declared its decision to halt the sharing of content on X, labeling it “a toxic media platform.” Their official reasoning underscored how X's environment had devolved, mentioning disturbing content including rampant misinformation and hateful discourse, particularly during the heated political climate.
"We think the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives," The Guardian stated, emphasizing their desire to channel resources toward journalism on platforms perceived as healthier. This move is emblematic of wider discontent, signaling to many the acknowledgment of X's influence on harmful political dialogue.
Meanwhile, Bluesky is relishing its newfound reputation as the preferred alternative for left-leaning users who feel unwelcomed by X's current climate. Axel Bruns, a social media researcher from Queensland University of Technology, described the platform as "a refuge for people who want to have the kind of social media experience Twitter used to provide," minus the far-right activism.
The departure from X has illuminated significant challenges for the platform. X saw not only losses due to the recent U.S. elections but has faced continued accusations about poor management of misinformation and hate speech. This criticism has escalated post-election, with observations noting the platform’s struggles to effectively moderate false claims, particularly concerning voting irregularities.
On X, misinformation circulated freely during the election period, with Musk amplifying erroneous assertions about voting technology. According to data by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, these misleading posts were viewed over 1.2 billion times, raising concerns about the platform's commitment to truth and user safety.
A consistent trend has emerged: as users flock away from X, competitors like Bluesky and Meta’s Threads are experiencing substantial growth, reflecting users' preferences for communities devoid of the divisive rhetoric characterizing X under Musk's influence.
Threads, launched less than six months ago, has also seen remarkable success, surpassing 275 million monthly users. This competitive environment suggests users are actively searching for platforms where interactions are grounded more on community and less on controversy.
The stark reality for X is its significant user base, which still overshadows Bluesky, yet user engagement has diminished noticeably. Data from Similarweb revealed active users on X have dropped by approximately 20% as disillusionment mounts. Critics note the exodus reflects growing concerns over Musk’s management approach and the prevailing atmosphere of negativity.
With the political climate only expected to heat up as the next election approaches, the migration away from X and toward platforms like Bluesky may continue at pace. Many hope this signals not just personal preferences but possibly broader trends on how social media can reshape community interactions amid increasing polarization.
