Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, has rocketed to prominence, topping Apple’s US App Store this week. Its growth comes as discontented X users flee Elon Musk’s increasingly controversial platform, now closely aligned with US President-elect Donald Trump.

Bluesky’s Rapid Rise

  • User growth: Over 1 million new sign-ups in a week, doubling its user base in 90 days to surpass 15 million total users.
  • App Store success: Now ranked #1 in the US App Store, a milestone fueled by disillusionment with Musk’s leadership of X.
  • High engagement: Prominent users report higher interaction rates on Bluesky than on X, despite smaller followings.

Why Users Are Leaving X

  • Controversial changes:
    • Reduction in content moderation.
    • Reinstatement of banned accounts, including extremists.
    • Verification system overhaul prioritizing paid users.
  • Political alignment:
    • Musk’s vocal support for Trump and platforming of far-right content.
    • Increased sexist and racist rhetoric, as tracked by researchers.
  • Decline in ad revenue: Once a cornerstone of X’s business, ad revenue has plummeted under Musk’s tenure.

Mixed Signals on X’s Usage

  • User activity spikes and exits:
    • Post-election, X saw its highest web traffic of the year, yet 115,000 users deactivated accounts in one day.
    • Mobile app usage and overall daily engagement are reportedly flat or declining.
  • Bluesky gains traction:
    • Bluesky saw a 28% jump in daily users after the election, contrasting X’s stagnation.

Musk’s Focus Shifts Away from X

  • Political ties deepen: Musk’s close relationship with Trump has culminated in an official government role. As co-leader of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, Musk wields influence beyond tech and into federal policy.
  • Economic returns:
    • Musk’s personal wealth surged by $26.5 billion after the election, reflecting investor optimism over his ties to Trump.
    • His other ventures, Tesla and SpaceX, are expected to benefit from this political alliance.

The Future of Social Media Competition

  • Bluesky’s momentum: While still smaller than X and Meta’s Threads, Bluesky’s growth trajectory signals a rising challenger.
  • X’s uncertain path: Despite Musk’s assurances of record-high usage, the platform’s reputation as a hub for far-right politics may alienate broader audiences and advertisers.
  • Musk’s priorities: With direct access to the presidency and growing influence in policy-making, Musk may see X’s diminishing user base as secondary to his broader ambitions.