LONDON: The emerging social media platform Bluesky has witnessed a surge of over 1 million new users since the US election, as users flee X — formerly known as Twitter — amid concerns over misinformation, spin, and offensive content.
The influx, primarily from North America and the UK, has propelled Bluesky’s global user base to nearly 15 million, up from 9 million in September, the company announced.
Social media analyst Axel Bruns highlighted Bluesky’s appeal as an alternative to X, offering robust tools to block or suspend problematic accounts and manage harmful behavior. “It’s become a haven for those seeking the kind of social media experience Twitter once offered, free from far-right activism, hate speech, and bots,” Bruns said, as reported by *The Guardian*.
Bluesky originated as a project within Twitter but became an independent entity in 2022, now led by CEO Jay Graber. The platform has grown in part due to dissatisfaction with X under Elon Musk, who is closely linked to President-elect Donald Trump’s election campaign. X faced significant user losses after its rebranding and saw US activity drop by more than 20% in the months following the change.
Bluesky also reported adding 3 million users in a week after X’s suspension in Brazil in September and another 1.2 million following a controversial decision to allow users to view posts from accounts they had blocked.
“We’re thrilled to welcome a diverse range of new users, from Swifties to wrestlers to city planners,” said Bluesky spokesperson Emily Liu.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at New York University, joined Bluesky this week and quickly gained 21,000 followers after leaving X, where she had amassed 250,000 followers. Ben-Ghiat expressed concerns about X’s potential transformation into a far-right propaganda tool under Musk’s leadership.
While Bluesky continues to grow, it remains second to Meta’s Threads in the social networking category on Apple’s US App Store. Threads reported 275 million monthly active users in November, up from 200 million in August.
To differentiate itself, Bluesky has recently introduced features such as direct messaging and video compatibility, aiming to replicate X’s user experience while offering a distinct alternative to its Meta-owned rival.