What is Bluesky?
Bluesky, a social media platform envisioned by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, started as an invitation-only network before opening its doors to the public in February. This initial phase enabled the development of essential features like moderation tools, enhancing the user experience. The platform bears some resemblance to Elon Musk’s Twitter—now called X—boasting both a “discover” feed and a chronological list of accounts that users follow. Bluesky also allows direct messaging, post pinning, and offers “starter packs” which curate suggested users and custom feeds for newcomers.
Why is Bluesky experiencing growth?
As of mid-November, Bluesky announced a rise in total users to 15 million, up from around 13 million at the end of October. This surge reflects a growing discontent among X users seeking a friendlier alternative for sharing their thoughts and connecting with others online. The increase in users post-election isn’t an isolated incident; Bluesky had previously welcomed 2.6 million new users in the week following X’s ban in Brazil last August, with 85% hailing from Brazil. Additionally, in October, the platform recorded about 500,000 sign-ups in a single day when X indicated that previously blocked accounts would regain access to public posts.
Among the new users on Bluesky are journalists, left-leaning politicians, and celebrities, many of whom are excited to engage in a space that prioritizes friendliness over advertisements and hate speech. Some users have remarked that the atmosphere of Bluesky echoes the early days of Twitter more than a decade ago.
Despite Bluesky’s rapid growth, X maintains that it has “dominated the global conversation on the U.S. election” and has achieved record levels of engagement.
Beyond Social Networking
Bluesky seeks to achieve more than just becoming a rival to X. The platform’s vision extends towards establishing a technical framework it calls “a protocol for public conversation.” This initiative aims to foster interoperability among various social networks—akin to how email, blogs, and phone numbers function across different platforms.
At present, the social media landscape is fragmented, preventing users from easily interacting across different platforms. For instance, Twitter users cannot comment on TikTok accounts, as each platform remains siloed and primarily serves its advertising-driven business model. Bluesky is attempting to challenge this norm by facilitating cross-platform interactions and reimagining how social networking can function in a more interconnected manner.
