Bluesky might end up defeating Twitter once and for all https://t.co/eDu50NC5TV via @slate
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) November 14, 2024
The social media landscape is witnessing significant shifts, with Bluesky seeing a substantial increase in its user base over the past three months. The platform, a direct competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter), has doubled its users, prompting discussions about a potential mass exodus from X. Bluesky reported gaining 1 million new sign-ups within a week, reaching over 15 million total users.
Thinking of joining the X-odus?
Come and find us where the skies are blue@rmtunion.bsky.social https://t.co/gJe8IJITlJ— RMT (@RMTunion) November 12, 2024
This surge in activity aligns with rising discontent on X, particularly following Elon Musk’s controversial management decisions and his involvement in the 2024 US Presidential election. X has faced criticism for changes implemented by Musk, including cutting content moderators, reinstating banned accounts, and altering the platform’s verification system. These changes have led to an increase in harmful content, affecting X’s core ad business and raising concerns among its users.
Significant numbers of prominent journalists have recently transitioned from X to Bluesky.
Sky is bluer on the other side. There is a massive migration of scientists to Bluesky. For example, I have just quadrupled the number of followers in Bluesky just in the past one week. https://t.co/jIUcewhX7U
— Ari Pekka Mähönen 🇫🇮 🇺🇦 (@AP_Mahonen) November 12, 2024
The Atlantic’s journalists and the UK’s Guardian newspaper are among those shifting away from X, labeling it as a “toxic media platform.”
Despite Bluesky’s growth, predictions about its potential to surpass X remain cautious.
“What, then, is Bluesky? Until this week, one could think of it as a small, clean lifeboat, sitting off to the side of a sinking cruise ship where most of the passengers also have norovirus.“ – vía @Slate https://t.co/ewnneg1uIX
— Jan-Albert Hootsen (@jahootsen) November 14, 2024
Although X has experienced mixed user trends since Musk’s takeover, it has endured the rise of numerous competitors without losing its relevance.
According to X CEO Linda Yaccarino, X’s usage is at an all-time high. In contrast, data from digital intelligence platforms show divergent trends. Similarweb reported that over 115,000 US X users deactivated their accounts immediately after the election, marking the largest single-day exit under Musk’s leadership.
However, the platform also recorded its highest web traffic of the year on the same day, with a notable increase in desktop visits.
Bluesky gains traction amid controversy
Bluesky also experienced significant traffic increases around the election period.
On Election Day and the day following, its daily visits jumped significantly, surpassing previous averages. Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower corroborated these findings, noting that X saw increased daily active users and time spent on the app around November 5 and 6, although the numbers plateaued shortly after. In contrast, Bluesky saw a 28% increase in daily active users post-election.
While X currently boasts far more users than Bluesky, the latter has shown significant engagement growth. Prominent social media figures report higher engagement on Bluesky despite having larger followings on X. Ed Zitron, founder of media relations firm EZPR, mentioned that Bluesky’s current scaling might challenge X’s dominance in the future.
Mike Isaac, a New York Times journalist, echoed this sentiment, observing substantially better engagement on Bluesky compared to X. Despite concerns about user migration, evidence suggests Musk might prioritize his political influence over platform metrics. Musk, who acquired X for $44 billion, has used the platform to establish connections with influential political figures.
Reports indicate his involvement in the election and subsequent interactions with high-profile politicians, including facilitating dialogues between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Musk’s advocacy for Trump, along with promises of official roles within a potential Trump administration, seems strategically beneficial for Musk’s business ventures, outweighing concerns about X’s user statistics. As Bluesky continues to grow, the broader impact on X remains uncertain.
While user dissatisfaction with Musk’s policies may drive migration, X’s ability to adapt and retain its audience amidst these changes will be crucial in determining the future dynamics of social media platforms.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
