Elon Musk’s election influence backfires? Users flee X for Bluesky in massive wave

In the week following the U.S. presidential election, Bluesky, a social media platform, has experienced a surge of over 700,000 new users, bringing its total user base to 14.5 million.

This influx is largely attributed to individuals seeking alternatives to X (formerly Twitter), expressing concerns over misinformation and offensive content on the platform.

Social media researcher Axel Bruns noted that Bluesky offers a more effective system for blocking or suspending problematic accounts and policing harmful behavior. He stated, "It’s become a refuge for people who want to have the kind of social media experience that Twitter used to provide, but without all the far-right activism, the misinformation, the hate speech, the bots and everything else."

Bluesky, initially a project within Twitter, became an independent company in 2022 and is now primarily owned by CEO Jay Graber. The platform has previously benefited from dissatisfaction with X and its owner, Elon Musk, who is closely tied to President-elect Donald Trump's successful election campaign. Following the rebranding to X, Twitter shed millions of users, with U.S. usage declining by more than 20% in the subsequent seven months.

This trend underscores a significant shift in user preferences toward platforms that prioritize effective moderation and a more positive user experience.