Exodus from Elon Musk’s X: Why users are flocking to Bluesky – All we know about the new app

Bluesky, a new text-based social media platform, is rapidly increasing in usership, as individuals flee X—formerly Twitter—following a series of controversial changes since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform.

Conceived as a decentralized alternative to Twitter, Bluesky offers a user-driven experience that mirrors many features of X, drawing a wave of former X users, including celebrities and major organizations, as mentioned in a report by Forbes.

Bluesky: The Decentralized Alternative to X

Launched in 2023 in its beta stage, Bluesky was initially a research project aimed at decentralizing social media, conceived by Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, in 2019.


Now operating as a fully decentralized platform, Bluesky allows users to create their own servers where they control data storage and community rules, marking a significant shift from traditional social media models that centralize control.

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The platform’s design closely resembles X, with similar features such as a character-limited post (called “skeets”), the ability to post images and videos, and interact with others via reposts, likes, and replies.

Users can also follow accounts to curate their timelines and send direct messages. A notable difference is Bluesky's more effective blocking system, which has attracted users frustrated by X’s recent changes to its block feature, now allowing blocked users’ posts to remain visible.

Surge in Usership Following Political Shifts

Bluesky's user base has surged by over 1.5 million new signups in just one week, coinciding with former President Donald Trump's victory and his appointment of Elon Musk to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

This political shift has prompted a growing number of users to seek alternatives to X, where Musk’s influence has been increasingly aligned with far-right ideologies.

Bluesky's commitment to maintaining open-source, user-driven content has attracted those disillusioned with X's new direction.

Despite this rapid growth, Bluesky's user numbers still lag behind X.

As of March, X reported 250 million daily active users, compared to Bluesky's 14.5 million total users, indicating that while Bluesky is growing, it has a long way to go before it matches X’s scale, as mentioned in the Forbes report.

High-Profile Users Flock to Bluesky

The Guardian has announced its departure from X, closing its accounts with a combined following of 27 million, citing X’s promotion of far-right conspiracy theories and racism as key factors in their decision.

Celebrities such as journalist Don Lemon and actress Jamie Lee Curtis also publicly confirmed their migration to Bluesky, further fueling its rise.

This exodus follows the departure of several high-profile figures after Musk’s 2022 acquisition of X, including Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Gigi Hadid, and Shonda Rhimes.

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These figures, along with others, have criticized Musk’s handling of X, particularly his approach to moderation and content management.

Dorsey’s Shift from Bluesky to X

In a surprising turn, Bluesky co-founder Jack Dorsey has distanced himself from the platform, resigning from its board in May 2023 and deleting his personal account.

Dorsey, who once criticized Musk’s leadership of X, now supports the platform, calling it "freedom technology" and emphasizing its potential for open discourse.

Despite this, Bluesky continues to thrive, with its decentralized model appealing to those seeking more control over their online experiences.

The platform promotes an alternative to billionaire-led decisions on content, with Bluesky’s website stating, “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see.”

This position appears to be a direct critique of Musk’s management of X.

FAQs:

What is Bluesky?
It’s a rising alternative to Elon Musk's X, and its color scheme and logo bear a striking resemblance to the platform.

What is the difference between Twitter and Bluesky?
The main distinction between Bluesky and many other social media platforms is its decentralized structure. Unlike traditional platforms, Bluesky operates on independent servers rather than those controlled by a single company.