Bluesky, a decentralized social network similar to X (formerly Twitter), has experienced a surge in popularity, adding over 700,000 new accounts in the past week alone. This brings its total user base to more than 14.5 million, according to Chief Operating Officer Rose Wang. Most of these new users are based in the United States, demonstrating strong interest in Bluesky as an alternative to mainstream social platforms.
Bluesky is now the second most popular free social networking app in the US App Store, following Meta’s Threads. Despite Threads surpassing 275 million monthly users, Bluesky’s recent growth suggests it’s carving out its own space in the social media landscape. However, with Threads’ significantly larger audience, it remains too early to label Bluesky as a competitor.
Factors Driving Bluesky’s Popularity
Recent frustrations with Threads could be influencing users’ interest in Bluesky. Many Threads users have expressed concerns about the platform’s member attraction methods, moderation practices, and, recently, misinformation issues, as reported by digital journalist Taylor Lorenz. Additionally, the platform’s algorithmic “For You” feed has received mixed reviews from users who dislike the inability to permanently disable it.
Bluesky, on the other hand, saw significant growth after X’s announcement that blocked users would still be able to view posts from those who blocked them. This change in X’s policies may have led some users to seek alternatives, and Bluesky attracted around 500,000 new users on a single day after this announcement. The upcoming U.S. presidential election may also be contributing to Bluesky’s popularity, as users potentially migrate to platforms not associated with Elon Musk, who has publicly supported Donald Trump.
New Features Enhance User Appeal
To retain its expanding user base, Bluesky continues to roll out new features, such as pinned posts, video posting capabilities, and private messaging, adds NIXSOLUTIONS. These updates contribute to the platform’s appeal and may be key in drawing more users from other networks. Bluesky’s commitment to ongoing improvements indicates it will remain responsive to user needs.
As Bluesky continues to develop and grow, we’ll keep you updated on any major changes that shape the platform’s future in the evolving social media landscape.