Bluesky is growing fast: Its decentralized platform is gaining users despite X’s changes

According to Bluesky’s Chief Operating Officer, Rose Wang, Bluesky, the ultra-decentralized social media network saw plenty of new users in just the past week, adding up to about 700,000, increasing its total user count as a whole to over 14.5 million. These new users are largely American, fueling the platform’s steady US growth, which now sees Bluesky rocket up to No2 on the U.S App Store free social networking apps table behind Meta’s Threads.

Threads have been under the microscope following recent problems with moderation, persistent algorithmic feeds, and high engagement bait, which frustrate users who want more options in their feed experience. Although they’re still far removed from Threads with over 275 million monthly users, Bluesky’s growth has been somewhat more stable, indicating that users might be looking for other spaces with fewer algorithmically designed feeds and less moderation argumentation.

Bluesky climbs to the top as users search for social media freedom

Bluesky’s growth surge points to recent changes at X, formerly Twitter, that have seen users flee. By way of example when, in response to X’s recent policy change that stopped blocked users from seeing blocked users’ content, 500,000 people joined Bluesky in just one day. On top of it all, some communities, like those behind U.S. election followers and even Taylor Swift fans, are looking elsewhere for a place safer than X: Bluesky.

Pinned posts, video support, and more in the next few years have cemented Bluesky’s position as a modern social media choice. Through these additions, Bluesky is living up to users’ desires for a platform that feels easy and new simultaneously and is cementing itself as an exciting competitor in the rapidly changing social media landscape.

Images credit: Bluesky