In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, a new contender has emerged in the form of Bluesky. Born out of the ashes of the former Twitter, before it was seized by billionaire Elon Musk in 2022, Bluesky has started to gain traction among those disgruntled with the current state of social media. While it may be relatively small compared to the established giants of the online world, it has carved out a niche for itself as a friendlier and lighter alternative, less influenced by the charismatic yet controversial Musk.
Understanding Bluesky
Originally an invitation-only space, Bluesky was championed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and opened to the public in February. This initial period of exclusivity allowed the platform to refine its moderation tools and develop its features. In terms of its structure, Bluesky bears a resemblance to Musk’s social media platform, with a “discover” feed and a chronological feed for accounts that users follow. It also allows users to send direct messages, pin posts, and even offers “starter packs” that provide a curated list of people and custom feeds to follow.
The Growth of Bluesky
In mid-November, Bluesky announced that its user base had surged to 15 million, up from approximately 13 million at the end of October. This growth has largely been driven by users seeking an alternative platform to express their thoughts and engage in online conversations. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Bluesky has benefited from a mass exodus from other platforms. It gained 2.6 million users in the week after another platform was banned in Brazil in August, with a staggering 85% of these new users hailing from Brazil. In October, when another platform hinted that blocked accounts would be able to view a user’s public posts, approximately 500,000 new users signed up in a single day.
Bluesky’s Vision for the Future
But Bluesky’s vision extends beyond just providing an alternative social networking space. It is also working on building a technical foundation, or what it calls “a protocol for public conversation”, which would allow social networks to work across different platforms, a feature known as interoperability. Currently, users can’t cross between platforms to leave a comment on someone’s account; Twitter users must stay on Twitter and TikTok users must stay on TikTok. Bluesky aims to change this status quo, breaking down the barriers erected by Big Tech companies and working towards developing a more interconnected social media ecosystem.
Despite the growth and potential of Bluesky, it’s worth noting that established platforms continue to dominate global conversations. One such platform, for instance, claimed to have had a significant impact on discussions surrounding the U.S. election and set new records in the process. Yet, the rise of Bluesky serves as a reminder that the world of social media is far from static, with new players continually emerging and offering fresh alternatives to users around the world.
