Bluesky Gains Momentum as Users Leave X Post-Election

Bluesky has gained over 1 million users since the US election, now totaling 15 million, as many abandon X due to dissatisfaction with Elon Musk’s management and rising hateful content. Notable media outlets have also ceased using X, exacerbating its user decline, highlighted by a loss of 115,000 accounts in one day.

In the wake of the recent US presidential election, the micro-blogging platform Bluesky has experienced substantial growth, gaining over one million new users. This surge has propelled its total user count to 15 million, a significant increase from nine million recorded in September. Users are reportedly leaving X, the platform previously known as Twitter, due to dissatisfaction with its management under Elon Musk, particularly following his alliance with President-elect Donald Trump and escalating hateful rhetoric. Founded in 2019 by Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky has become a haven for left-leaning users discontented with X’s perceived drift to the right. Influential figures, including billionaire Mark Cuban, have expressed their support for Bluesky, aligning with its mission to foster a less hostile online environment. In tandem with these user migrations, prominent media outlets like The Guardian have ceased posting content on X, citing the platform’s toxic atmosphere. The Guardian declared, “The US presidential election campaign served only to underline what we have considered for a long time: that X is a toxic media platform and that its owner, Elon Musk, has been able to use its influence to shape political discourse.” While Bluesky is experiencing rapid growth, X continues to dominate the social media landscape. However, the platform faced a significant user drop, with Similarweb indicating a drop of 115,000 US accounts on the day following the election, marking the largest single-day decline since Musk’s acquisition. In response to concerns over user control and platform integrity, Bluesky has positioned itself as an alternative, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining a welcoming digital community.

The shift of users from X to Bluesky underscores growing dissatisfaction with the quality of discourse on social media platforms, particularly following significant political events such as elections. Since acquiring X in late 2022, Elon Musk’s management style and controversial associations have prompted many users to reevaluate their online presence. Bluesky’s creation by Jack Dorsey and its subsequent outreach to disillusioned leftist users highlight the competitive landscape of micro-blogging sites, where ideological differences increasingly influence user retention.

In summary, Bluesky’s user base has surged past 15 million, largely due to discontent with X following the US presidential election. Users are abandoning X amid rising concerns about its management, characterized by hateful content and political biases. As the social media landscape evolves, Bluesky has successfully positioned itself as an appealing alternative for those seeking a more liberal and less toxic online environment, while X grapples with notable user attrition.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com