Bluesky Gains 700K Users as People Flee X Post-Election
Following the recent U.S. presidential election, social media platform Bluesky has experienced a significant surge in user activity, with over 700,000 new members joining in the past week. This influx is largely attributed to users departing from X (formerly Twitter), seeking an alternative environment amid concerns over misinformation and offensive content.
Bluesky, which originated as a project within Twitter before becoming an independent entity in 2022, now boasts approximately 14.5 million users worldwide, up from 9 million in September. The platform offers features that appeal to users desiring a more controlled and positive social media experience, including effective systems for blocking or suspending problematic accounts and policing harmful behavior.
Social media researcher Axel Bruns notes that Bluesky has become a refuge for individuals seeking the kind of social media experience that Twitter used to provide, but without the far-right activism, misinformation, hate speech, and bots. He observes that the more liberal Twitter community has moved en masse to Bluesky.
This migration underscores a growing demand for social media platforms that prioritize user safety and content moderation, reflecting broader concerns about the role of social media in disseminating information and shaping public discourse.
