What is Bluesky and why are people leaving X to sign up?

14 Nov 2024

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In the week after Donald Trump's victory in the election, about a million people registered on the social media platform Bluesky. But what exactly is Bluesky?

In this section, the PA news agency describes the distinctions between this social media platform and X, as well as the reasons behind its growing popularity among users.

What exactly is Bluesky?

Bluesky is a social media site that allows users to connect similarly to how they do on X. Users can share posts, reply to others, and send messages, all within a vertical layout.

It’s probably not shocking that the platform emerged from Twitter, now called X, after its CEO Jack Dorsey revealed in 2019 that the company would support developers in building an “open and decentralized standard for social media.”

It was officially established as a standalone platform in 2021 and is quickly becoming a favored spot for individuals looking to move away from X.

– What sets it apart from X?

In contrast to X, Bluesky gives users greater control over how they manage their experience.

This allows you to choose the algorithm that drives your experience, enabling you to create personalized feeds. For instance, you could set up a feed specifically for mutual followers, one dedicated to cat pictures, or another that focuses on a particular hobby or interest of yours.

The platform expresses its goal of shifting away from the traditional 'master algorithm' that is managed by just one company. Instead, they want to create an open and varied 'marketplace of algorithms.'

X’s verification system has faced backlash since users can now buy a blue tick, which used to be a symbol of an account’s authenticity.

Bluesky enables users to use website addresses as their usernames. This feature is expected to serve as a way to verify the identities of journalists, athletes, and public figures who include their organization's website in their handle.

At the same time, while X seems to be loosening its restrictions on user interactions—like recently altering the block feature so users can still view posts from public accounts that have blocked them—Bluesky is showcasing its commitment to combating harmful behavior on the platform.

This includes giving users the ability to unlink their original post from someone else's quoted post, which helps avoid unwanted interactions.

– What’s motivating people to join Bluesky?

Elon Musk's acquisition of X left some people feeling unsettled, and his decision to use the platform, where he has 205 million followers, to back Donald Trump during the 2024 US election campaign intensified those concerns for numerous individuals.

Both X and Mr. Musk have faced heightened criticism since the entrepreneur assumed control of the platform in late 2022. The billionaire has, on several occasions, interacted with misleading posts and accounts that are recognized for disseminating false information.

Following the tragic stabbings in Southport, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls, he shared several pictures and memes related to the anti-immigration demonstrations and chaos occurring in the UK.

X users have mentioned a rise in "bots," which has made the platform challenging to navigate, as the comment sections are frequently overrun with irrelevant AI-generated content.

A number of Members of Parliament have recently joined Bluesky, including Jess Phillips, who is the safeguarding minister, Layla Moran, the technology spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, and Diane Abbott, who holds the title of Mother of the House.

- What is the total number of users who have registered for Bluesky?

On November 13, Bluesky revealed that its user base had exceeded 15 million.

The platform reported that it gained one million new users in the week after Trump's election win.

– Who has transitioned to Bluesky?

American actress Jamie Lee Curtis has openly discussed her choice to leave X. She shared a screenshot on Instagram that showed she had deactivated her account, making her decision public.

She has over 29,000 followers on Bluesky, where she shared a message about leaving X, stating: “#WeDontNeedX.”

The popular TV host and wildlife expert Chris Packham, along with Irish comedian Dara O'Briain and Countdown celebrity Susie Dent, are also among those who use it.