In a week marked by the U.S. election, the social media platform Bluesky has experienced an influx of 1 million new users, as some former users of X seek an alternative space for expression and interaction online. Bluesky announced on Wednesday that its total user base has surged to 15 million, a notable increase from approximately 13 million at the end of October.
Originating as an invite-only platform, Bluesky—spearheaded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey—opened to the public in February to establish robust moderation tools and other features. Similar in structure to Elon Musk’s X, Bluesky offers a “discover” feed along with a chronological feed for followed accounts. The platform also allows users to send direct messages, pin posts, and access “starter packs” that feature curated lists of people and custom feeds.
This post-election surge in users is not an isolated event for Bluesky. The platform saw a substantial gain of 2.6 million users following X’s ban in Brazil last August, with 85% of the new users hailing from Brazil. In another spike, around 500,000 users joined in a single day last month when X indicated that blocked accounts could view public posts.
Despite Bluesky’s escalating popularity, X announced last week that it had set new records, boasting a 15.5% increase in new-user signups on Election Day and registering an unprecedented 942 million posts globally. Representatives from both Bluesky and X did not provide comments on these developments.
Bluesky has taken a lighthearted approach in addressing its competition with X. On Election Day, Bluesky posted on X, humorously noting that no team members would be sitting with a presidential candidate and granting them control over what users see online—a dig referencing Elon Musk’s close ties to political figures.
New users on Bluesky, including journalists, left-leaning politicians, and celebrities, have been actively sharing memes and expressing enthusiasm for a platform devoid of advertisements and hate speech. Many have remarked that Bluesky recaptures the essence of the early days of X, back when it was still known as Twitter.
Adding to the exodus from X, The Guardian announced on Wednesday that it would cease posting on the platform, citing the proliferation of “far right conspiracy theories and racism.” Meanwhile, television journalist Don Lemon revealed his departure from X, though he plans to remain active on other social media, including Bluesky.
Lemon criticized X for no longer being conducive to “honest debate and discussion,” highlighting forthcoming changes to the site’s terms of service that mandate lawsuits against X be filed in the Northern District of Texas. This move aligns with Musk’s decision to relocate X’s headquarters from San Francisco to Texas. Lemon referenced a Washington Post report suggesting these changes could shield X from litigation and stifle critics, particularly in conservative-leaning courthouses.
Concerns about X’s content moderation have previously led major advertisers like IBM, NBCUniversal, and Comcast to withdraw their advertisements. These companies were alarmed by the placement of their ads next to pro-Nazi content and general hate speech, further aggravated by Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
