Decentralized Rival Bluesky Surpasses 12 Million Users Following Musk’s AI Plans for Twitter
Elon Musk
Social media
Twitter
Bluesky has witnessed a remarkable surge in its user base, surpassing 12 million users and establishing itself as a rapidly growing competitor to Elon Musk’s Twitter.
Within a span of just 48 hours, Bluesky reported an influx of over 1 million new sign-ups, solidifying its position as a formidable player in the social media landscape.
The catalyst for this unprecedented digital boom can be traced back to Musk’s actions on Twitter.
Twitter’s recent changes have prompted users to seek alternative platforms, inadvertently benefiting Bluesky.
One of the significant changes on Twitter’s horizon is a revised privacy policy that permits third-party AI developers to utilize user data for training their models. This move has raised concerns regarding data privacy and transparency.
Furthermore, Twitter’s modification to its block function, which limits users’ control over content visibility, has faced criticism for potentially exposing individuals to online harassment.
Additionally, Twitter’s legal jurisdiction shift from California to the Northern District of Texas, a region perceived to align more closely with Musk’s ideology, has sparked speculation among users and observers.
Bluesky has seized this opportunity presented by Twitter’s tumultuous state and has been capitalizing on the chaos to its advantage. The platform emphasizes its dedication to user-centric policies and online safety.
In response to Twitter’s policy updates, Bluesky’s official account has reassured users of their ability to customize their online experiences and exercise control over their interactions, setting itself apart from Twitter’s evolving landscape.
The platform’s exponential growth has been so significant that its servers struggled to handle the sudden surge in traffic. This has propelled Bluesky to the forefront of social media discussions and global app rankings.
Meanwhile, Twitter has been dealing with financial setbacks, experiencing a significant decrease in value following Musk’s acquisition in 2022. Advertisers have also withdrawn due to concerns over brand safety and platform stability.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Bluesky has gained users during Twitter’s turbulent times. Previously, the platform experienced a surge in user adoption when Twitter faced bans and controversies, particularly in Brazil, where Bluesky gained millions of new users within a week.
Bluesky’s decentralized structure and focus on empowering users strongly resonate with those seeking alternatives to traditional social media giants, particularly in light of concerns surrounding data exploitation and AI model training practices.
In May, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, resigned from Bluesky’s board. Dorsey publicly criticized Musk’s management of X last year, expressing disapproval of the board’s decision to sell the platform to him.
Bluesky was initially announced by Dorsey in late 2019, with the aim of developing an open and decentralized standard for social media. However, it wasn’t until March 2023 that Bluesky entered beta testing and was finally made available to the public on February 7, 2024.
