What is Bluesky? Social network sees user surge post-election
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LOS ANGELES - Bluesky, a social media platform spearheaded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has seen significant growth in recent weeks, with over 1 million new users joining the platform since the U.S. election. Launched publicly in February, Bluesky had previously operated as an invitation-only service to focus on building its community and refining moderation tools.
The platform’s growth has been partly fueled by a migration from X (formerly Twitter) as users seek an alternative space to share thoughts, news, and discussions online. Many cite Bluesky’s commitment to minimizing hate speech and maintaining a more curated community experience as reasons for switching.
What are Bluesky’s features, and how is it different from X?
Bluesky offers features familiar to X users, including a chronological feed of followed accounts, a "discover" feed, direct messaging, and pinned posts. It also includes unique "starter packs," or curated lists of accounts and topics to help users personalize their experience.
One notable difference is Bluesky’s focus on maintaining a more moderated, ad-free environment, with some new users mentioning it reminds them of "the early days of Twitter." In a pointed Election Day post, Bluesky referenced X owner Elon Musk’s public political involvement, assuring users that Bluesky "team members will not be sitting with a presidential candidate… and giving them direct access to control what you see online."
Why are people leaving X for Bluesky?
X, formerly Twitter, has faced a variety of controversies in recent months. Recently, media outlets and public figures like The Guardian and Don Lemon publicly announced they would no longer be active on X, citing the platform’s atmosphere, policy changes, and terms of service updates. Lemon, in a farewell post, noted that X’s new terms require lawsuits against the platform to be filed in Texas, a change that some experts say could make it easier for X to limit criticism and litigation.
The Guardian echoed similar concerns, citing "far-right conspiracy theories and racism" on X as reasons for pulling its presence from the platform. Advertisers like IBM and NBCUniversal left X last year amid similar concerns over hate speech and other offensive content appearing next to their ads. This exodus of brands and media personalities continues to draw new users to alternative platforms like Bluesky.
Bluesky’s response to its growth
Bluesky’s success and user influx have led to ongoing enhancements to ensure a positive community atmosphere. In January, the platform plans to launch additional features that will continue its focus on moderation and allow users more control over their feeds.
As social media continues to shift and evolve, platforms like Bluesky aim to provide an alternative for those seeking new digital communities. Whether Bluesky will maintain its momentum and compete directly with X remains to be seen.