 in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential election. This shift has put Bluesky on a direct collision course with Meta’s Threads, which had been vying to capture the disillusioned social media audience.){kind=link}
Bluesky, a rising social media platform, is gaining significant traction as users flee Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential election. This shift has put Bluesky on a direct collision course with Meta’s Threads, which had been vying to capture the disillusioned social media audience.
Since the election, Bluesky’s daily user base in the US and UK has surged by 300%, reaching 3.5 million active users, according to Similarweb. This remarkable growth comes as journalists, academics, and left-leaning politicians abandon X, citing its diminished content moderation under Musk’s ownership. Meanwhile, Threads, which initially held a significant lead, now finds itself only 1.5 times larger than its smaller rival.
Meta’s Missteps and Bluesky’s Advantage
Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has faced criticism for reducing the visibility of political content across its platforms, including Threads. This approach, aimed at steering clear of divisive debates, has left Threads ill-equipped to meet the demand for real-time, politically charged conversations—a niche Bluesky has effectively filled.
Bluesky, initially funded by Twitter under Jack Dorsey, has positioned itself as a decentralized alternative to X. Its ability to curate “starter packs” of recommended accounts and foster focused communities has resonated with users seeking a return to the personalized, real-time engagement that X once offered. However, the platform has grappled with growing pains, including frequent outages and questions about its long-term business model.
Threads’ Countermeasures
In a bid to regain lost ground, Meta recently introduced custom feeds on Threads, allowing users to follow specific topics or personalities—a feature Bluesky has offered for months. Despite Threads amassing 275 million users globally and attracting over 15 million new sign-ups in November alone, experts argue that its timeline algorithm, which prioritises engaging content over real-time updates, has alienated users seeking immediacy.
Katie Harbath, a former Meta elections policy director, notes that Meta faces a critical decision: either reintroduce political content to compete with Bluesky or risk losing its relevance in this domain.
Read More: Is Bluesky the Alternative to X?
The Future of Bluesky and Threads
Bluesky’s rapid growth underscores the demand for platforms catering to niche communities and real-time interaction. However, sustaining this momentum will require addressing technical challenges and solidifying its revenue model. For Meta, the challenge lies in balancing its expansive user base with the need to adapt Threads for dynamic, politically charged conversations.
As the social media landscape evolves, Bluesky’s rise highlights a shift away from monolithic platforms like Meta and X toward smaller, more agile competitors. Whether this trend endures depends on how well these platforms navigate the delicate balance between growth, user experience, and monetisation.
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