Thunder Bay – TECH – Since the 2024 United States Presidential election, Bluesky has seen a surge in popularity, adding over 700,000 new users in the past week, bringing its total user count to over 14.5 million, Bluesky COO Rose Wang confirmed to The Verge.
Most of these new users on the decentralized platform hail from the United States. Currently, Bluesky ranks as the second-most downloaded free social networking app on the U.S. App Store, trailing only Meta’s Threads.
Threads, meanwhile, is contending with user complaints about engagement bait, moderation issues, and misinformation, according to Taylor Lorenz. Many users, including The Verge’s Tom Warren, have expressed frustration with Threads’ algorithmic “For You” feed, which can’t be permanently disabled.
Despite its growth, Bluesky still has a way to go to catch up with Threads, which recently surpassed 275 million monthly users.
However, Bluesky’s momentum has been remarkable; on October 24th, the platform reported 13 million users, and after X announced changes allowing blocked users to view posts from those who blocked them, Bluesky gained 500,000 users in just one day.
Political shifts in the U.S., as well as concerns about hate speech on X, could also be influencing Bluesky’s rising user base, with some seeking an alternative platform not owned by Elon Musk. This includes communities like Taylor Swift fans, who have sought a safer space online amid growing concerns over toxicity on X.
X, owned by Elon Musk has seen significant change since he purchased the company.
Bluesky has been enhancing its platform to better compete with major social networks, rolling out features like pinned posts, video posting, and direct messaging. Users also have the flexibility to customize feeds and create starter packs, making it easier to connect with familiar accounts, including Verge staffers already active on the platform.
