Bluesky, a burgeoning social media platform, has seen its user base grow to an impressive 19 million, up from just 10 million in early September. The platform’s rise coincides with a significant exodus from Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter), dubbed an "X-odus" on social media. Following the recent US presidential elections, nearly a million users, including journalists, actors, musicians, and other prominent figures, have abandoned X for Bluesky, which has topped app download charts on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the US.
Why Are Users Migrating to Bluesky?
Political Controversy on X
Many users are leaving X in reaction to Elon Musk’s open support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Musk not only endorsed Trump but also formed a super PAC that invested nearly $200 million in campaign efforts. Shortly after Trump’s election victory, he announced that Musk would join his cabinet, co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.
These developments led some users to express concerns that X might devolve into an echo chamber for right-wing ideologies, prompting them to seek alternative platforms like Bluesky.
Privacy Concerns
Others have left X due to non-political reasons, particularly a controversial update to X’s terms of service on November 15. The new policy grants X the right to analyze and use users’ posts, photos, and videos, including content from private accounts, to train its AI chatbot, Grok. The updated terms explicitly state:
"You agree that this license includes the right for us to (i) analyze text and other information you provide... for use with and training of our machine learning and artificial intelligence models."
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky began as an internal project at X in 2019, under then-CEO Jack Dorsey. Initially invite-only, the platform became public in February and established itself as an independent company in 2021, led by CEO Jay Graber.
How is Bluesky Different From X?
Bluesky offers users unique features aimed at improving authenticity and personalization:
Customizable Feeds: Users can choose algorithms to tailor their experience.
Authentic Interactions: Handles function as website addresses, reducing bot activity and enhancing trustworthiness.
Verification Support: This setup can serve as a verification tool for public figures, journalists, and athletes.
Can Bluesky Handle the Surge in Users?
Bluesky’s rapid growth has presented moderation challenges. The platform recently reported 42,000 moderation cases in a single day, compared to 360,000 in all of 2023. To address this, Bluesky is expanding its team and encouraging users to report troll, spam, and scam accounts. Additionally, it has implemented email verification for new signups to enhance security.
Bluesky’s ascent highlights users' growing demand for platforms that prioritize privacy, authenticity, and control, making it a serious contender against X.