Brazil bans Elon Musk’s X, millions flock to Bluesky for new social media home

As Brazil shuts down X, Bluesky quickly becomes the go-to platform for millions of displaced users.

Brazil’s Supreme Court is set to vote today on whether to ban X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, following its suspension over concerns related to misinformation.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, has faced increasing scrutiny from Brazilian authorities, leading many users to seek alternatives such as Bluesky.

The conflict between Musk and Brazil’s legal system escalated in April when Justice Alexandre Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts accused of spreading disinformation, many of which were linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

X’s failure to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil by the court-imposed deadline only worsened the situation, leading to the platform’s suspension.

Justice Moraes defended the ban, citing X’s non-compliance with Brazilian law and its inability to effectively curb the spread of disinformation. 

Musk, who positions himself as a defender of free speech, responded by accusing Justice Moraes of undermining democracy, stating, "Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes."

X has long been a popular platform in Brazil, serving as a hub for political discourse, social movements, and daily communication.

However, with its future in jeopardy, millions of Brazilian users are turning to alternatives, with Bluesky emerging as a leading contender. 

The decentralized social-blogging platform, based in the United States, has seen a significant surge in users, gaining half a million new accounts in Brazil within just two days of X’s suspension.

Bluesky’s appeal lies in its decentralized model, which offers greater user control over data and content, contrasting sharply with X’s more centralized structure. 

Additionally, Bluesky’s transparent and community-driven content moderation policies have attracted users disillusioned with X’s practices.

As more users migrate to platforms like Bluesky and Threads, the dominance of traditional social media giants such as X and Facebook could be challenged, potentially leading to a more diverse and decentralized social media landscape in Brazil.

The situation has garnered global attention, raising questions about whether other countries might adopt similar measures to regulate social media platforms more aggressively.