Hajra Naz
An alternative to Twitter (Elon Musk’s X), Bluesky, is becoming more and more well-known. The platform now boasts over 16 million users, rapidly growing following the U.S. presidential election. This growth is attributed to dissatisfaction among X users over Musk’s changes, including controversial block features and the use of content to train AI. Additionally, Musk’s political campaigning has prompted many to seek alternatives.
X Remains the Leader Despite Growing Competition
With the most monthly active users in the market, X maintains its dominance despite its difficulties. However, Meta’s Threads is quickly closing the gap. In November alone, Threads grew by 15 million users, reaching 275 million monthly active users.
Bluesky vs. Other Alternatives
Unlike Threads, which Big Tech backs, Bluesky positions itself as an indie competitor to X. Mastodon, another decentralized site with 7.6 million members but fewer than a million monthly log-ins, has already been overtaken by it. Comparatively, the broader fediverse, built on ActivityPub, has over 10.8 million users.
The Impact of Bluesky’s Growth on X
Bluesky’s rising user base could begin to impact X’s dominance. Analytics firm Similarweb reported that X is experiencing a significant number of account deactivations. On Wednesday alone, over 115,000 U.S. web visitors deactivated their X accounts, marking the highest daily total during Musk’s leadership. This is notably higher than the previous peak of 65,000 in December 2023, following Musk’s reinstatement of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Notably, these figures only account for web-based deactivations, meaning the total number of account closures, including those on the X mobile app, is likely much higher.
A Decentralized Future
With its rapid growth and user-centric focus, Bluesky may become a significant player in the evolving social media landscape, offering a decentralized alternative to mainstream platforms. As users seek out platforms that align with their values, Bluesky’s trajectory could reshape the competitive dynamics in the social media space.
Bluesky: Familiar Yet Fundamentally Different
At first glance, Bluesky might look and feel like X (formerly Twitter. The platform offers many familiar features, such as:
- Posting short text updates with media like photos, videos, GIFs, or links.
- Liking, reposting, replying to, or sharing posts via direct messages.
- Tools for blocking, reporting, and muting threads, words, and hashtags.
- Options to send private messages and organize content into lists.
A Decentralized Network That Puts Users in Control
Bluesky isn’t just another social platform; it’s built on a vision of user empowerment. The app’s decentralized design allows users to take charge of their data and online presence. With the introduction of federation, individuals can host their data while remaining part of the broader network.
Unlike its decentralized competitor Mastodon, which uses the ActivityPub protocol, Bluesky operates on the Authenticated Transfer (AT) Protocol. This approach ensures that server choice doesn’t limit the content users can access. Bluesky simplifies the experience, ensuring that decentralization doesn’t compromise usability.
By prioritizing user control, transparency, and innovation, Bluesky offers a refreshing alternative in the evolving social media landscape.
Why Bluesky Stands Out
Bluesky’s growth isn’t solely about dissatisfaction with X—it’s also about the features and promises that make the platform unique:
- Algorithmic Freedom: Users can pick algorithms that suit their preferences, creating a customized experience.
- Interoperability: Bluesky envisions a future where users can seamlessly interact with other platforms that adopt the AT Protocol.
- User Empowerment: By decentralizing content control, Bluesky gives users more say in how their data is managed and shared.
