Bluesky Gains 700,000 New Users After US Election
In the week following the recent US election, Bluesky, a social media platform, has reported an influx of 700,000 new users. Originally developed as a project within Twitter by former CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky has seen a surge in sign-ups, primarily from users in the US and UK.
Bluesky’s membership numbers have grown substantially, jumping from 9 million in September to reach 14.5 million by November 12. “We’re thrilled to welcome a variety of new users, from Swifties and wrestlers to city planners,” said Emily Liu, a spokesperson for Bluesky.
The recent migration of users from X (formerly Twitter) is thought to be a reaction to Elon Musk’s endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump, who achieved a strong victory on November 5. Users of X, which Musk acquired for $44 billion (£34 billion) in 2022, have raised concerns about a rise in misinformation, offensive content, and challenges in managing interactions on the platform.
This week, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared her return to Bluesky, stating, “Good GOD it’s nice to be in a digital space with other real human beings.” This sentiment reflects a trend of users seeking alternatives to Musk’s platform.
The shift to Bluesky is not new. In August, the platform saw a 60% increase in activity from UK users amidst widespread unrest in several British towns and cities. At that time, Musk took to X to criticize UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, labeling him #twotierkier and predicting inevitable civil conflict in the UK.
In response, prominent figures like Home Office Minister Jess Philips and Labour MP Lewis Atkinson announced their plans to switch to Bluesky. Atkinson posted, “Hello everyone here… another potential alternative to that other place…” echoing the growing appeal of Bluesky as a fresh social media space.
X’s user base has also declined by approximately 20% since its rebranding from Twitter, and Bluesky previously reported a gain of three million users when X was temporarily suspended in Brazil.
Adding to the movement, British comedian Greg Davies announced this week on social media that he would be leaving X, stating, “If you want to know what I’ve been up to, you can sign up to my mailing list or follow me on Instagram.”
What is Bluesky?
Bluesky was initially envisioned within Twitter in 2019 and launched as an independent platform in 2021. Owned by Jay Graber, it operates on a decentralized model that allows different platforms and communities to connect, unlike traditional centralized networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
Despite this distinct approach, Bluesky’s interface bears similarities to X (formerly Twitter), even introducing direct messaging recently. Currently, it ranks second on the US Apple App Store, trailing Threads, Meta’s similar app with 275 million active monthly users.