The day after the US presidential election Bluesky experienced an enormous surge in traffic, with usage reaching 500% in the US and over 350% in the UK according to data published by Similarweb. Around the same time, on X more than 115,000 users deactivated their accounts – the largest mass exit the platform has ever experienced, which social media users have appropriately dubbed the ‘X-odus’.
So, why are so many users making the shift to Bluesky?
Aside from concerns about Musk’s political influence over the content featured on X, a possible reason for this mass shift to Bluesky is due to users exploring more trustworthy and transparent alternatives to their current social media apps. While Bluesky may seem similar to X in its appearance, it offers a decentralised approach which gives users more control over the content they see.
Users can choose their own algorithm, personalise their feeds and moderate the content that they see, whereas X focuses on keeping users engaged by promoting content that is likely to receive more interaction. Bluesky also gives users more control over their privacy and offers more transparency about how data is used, while X collects a large amount of data, partly to show personalised content, but also in order to make money through advertisements.
Another feature that sets Bluesky apart is that it doesn’t support paid promotions – this means that users don’t have to scroll past ads, allowing them to focus on the content that they do want to see. Instead of generating their revenue through advertisements, Bluesky gives users the possibility to set themselves apart by purchasing a unique domain name, and it is predicted that in the future they will offer additional features for paid subscriptions.
There are many reasons why users may be making the shift from one app to another, but ultimately it comes down to a matter of personal choice. However, one thing is certain – Bluesky is growing rapidly, and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
If you’re thinking of joining the Bluesky community, or you’re already a member, be sure to follow Euro Weekly News to stay informed with all the latest updates.
