Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform, is rising as an alternative to X, emphasizing user privacy and customization to challenge centralized networks.
Bluesky, the Twitter-like platform that’s quickly gaining traction, is being hailed as a worthy competitor to Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). With a surge in user growth, especially after the U.S. presidential election, Bluesky is now boasting over 16 million users. As Musk’s X grapples with increasing right-wing leanings, controversial policy changes, and rising user dissatisfaction, many are flocking to Bluesky for a more user-friendly alternative.
However, the question remains: Is Bluesky merely a Twitter clone? On the surface, the app does share several similarities with X. Users can post short text updates with photos, videos, and links, engage with likes, reposts, replies, and direct messages, and even mute or block others—much like its rival. But Bluesky’s unique selling point lies in its decentralized structure, powered by the AT Protocol, as opposed to X’s centralized approach. This allows Bluesky users to control their data, with the option to host their own servers and build custom feeds—offering a level of autonomy that X cannot match.
In fact, Bluesky’s decentralization sets it apart from other platforms like Mastodon. While Mastodon is also decentralized, Bluesky promises a more seamless experience by ensuring that server choices don’t impact the content a user sees. This key difference has helped Bluesky carve out a niche in the growing fediverse, attracting users who feel disenfranchised by centralized platforms, including X.
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Bluesky’s rise comes at a time when many users are growing disillusioned with Musk’s changes to X. According to Similarweb, X saw a record number of account deactivations earlier this month, signaling a shift away from the platform. More than 115,000 U.S. users deactivated their accounts on a single day—a stark contrast to the 65,000 peak in December 2023. This exodus has fueled speculation that Bluesky, though still smaller than X, could eventually begin to chip away at its dominance.
Despite this, Bluesky’s approach is far from flawless. While it offers some appealing features—such as customizable feeds and the ability to create “Starter Packs” to help new users find interesting accounts—its user base is still relatively small, and it lacks the real-time trending topics that have made X the go-to platform for breaking news. Additionally, Bluesky has yet to build the type of mainstream recognition that could allow it to compete on the same level as X or Threads, Meta’s rapidly growing rival.
Another controversial aspect of Bluesky’s growth is its moderation policy. Unlike X, which has centralized content moderation, Bluesky allows users to decide how they want to handle inappropriate content. This includes the ability to mute or block users, subscribe to third-party moderation services, or even host their own data. While this approach empowers users to control their experience, it also leaves the platform vulnerable to fragmented, inconsistent moderation practices—something critics have argued could lead to the rise of toxic communities or unchecked misinformation.
Bluesky’s emphasis on decentralized moderation is certainly controversial. Some argue that it offers a more democratic, user-centric solution to the issues that have plagued centralized social networks, while others warn that it could create a Wild West of content, making it difficult to enforce consistent policies against hate speech or misinformation.
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Despite these challenges, Bluesky’s rapid growth and its promise of a more personalized, user-controlled platform have made it a serious player in the social media space. It may not yet rival X in terms of active users, but with its focus on privacy, decentralization, and customization, Bluesky is positioning itself as a forward-thinking alternative to the increasingly controversial X. Whether it can maintain its momentum and address the growing concerns around moderation will determine if it can truly take on Musk’s platform or if it will remain a niche player in the fediverse.
