Bluesky has recently surpassed 16 million users, driven by rapid growth following the U.S. presidential election. This surge is partly attributed to users leaving X due to its increasing right-wing leanings and changes implemented by Elon Musk, such as alterations to how blocks work and the use of user content to train AI.
In contrast to X, which has seen a decline in daily active users since Musk’s acquisition, Bluesky and Meta’s Threads are experiencing substantial growth. Threads, for instance, has grown by over 15 million users in November alone, reaching a total of 275 million monthly active users.
Factors Driving the Migration
The migration to Bluesky and Threads is fueled by several factors, including dissatisfaction with X’s new policies and Musk’s political endorsements. Musk’s support for Donald Trump has been a significant catalyst, with many users seeking alternative platforms that do not align with these political leanings.
Additionally, changes in X’s content algorithm and moderation policies have led to a decline in user satisfaction. For example, the restoration of controversial accounts and the perceived bias in content recommendations have driven users away from X.
Bluesky’s Unique Features and User Experience
Bluesky is distinguishing itself through innovative features such as “Starter Packs,” which help new users discover and follow interesting accounts. This approach addresses the “cold start” problem by allowing users to easily find and follow recommended accounts, similar to X’s Suggested User List. Unlike X and Threads, Bluesky does not have a trending topics page, but it offers users the flexibility to customize their feeds according to their interests. Users can follow specific accounts or unofficial feeds focused on trending topics, providing a more personalized experience.
