Bluesky on the Rise as Users Flee X Amid Growing Dissent

In a shocking turn of events, social media platform X—formerly known as Twitter—has witnessed a staggering spike in account deactivations, with an estimated 281,600 accounts closed worldwide in a single day on November 6. This alarming trend, revealed by Similarweb, has sparked speculation that the glory days of Elon Musk's ambitious social media venture may be waning.

In the backdrop of Donald Trump's recent victory in the US election, alternatives to X, such as Bluesky, have surged in popularity. Downloads for Bluesky skyrocketed as users sought refuge from the increasingly turbulent environment of X, propelling the platform to the top of app store charts. Bluesky has welcomed over 1 million new users in just one week, bringing its total user base to approximately 15 million.

While the motivations behind users migrating from X to alternatives are complex, it's evident that Musk's outspoken support for Trump and X’s contentious atmosphere have played significant roles in driving users away. Major brands and individuals have publicly cited concerns about the polarizing rhetoric and the diminishing moderation standards on the X platform.

Researcher Bart Cammaerts from the London School of Economics remarked that recent account migrations mark a critical turning point, noting that long-standing issues with moderation and Musk’s approach to platform governance have made a considerable impact. “The increase in users migrating away is a culmination of ongoing practices that have progressively alienated them," he stated.

Prominent entities like The Guardian and various American media outlets such as NPR and PBS have either ceased posting entirely on X or substantially reduced their presence. Other notable figures, including actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Bette Midler, have deactivated their X accounts, joining a growing list of high-profile users who have opted to exit since Musk's acquisition in late 2022.

Brands spanning the globe are reevaluating their engagement on X. Noteworthy examples include the Berlin Film Festival and German football club FC St. Pauli, both of which have publicly announced their departure from the platform. Earlier this year, more than 50 nonprofits coordinated a mass exit campaign, citing a rise in hateful content as a catalyst for their decision.

Amid the exodus, the increasing prevalence of toxic and incendiary content on X has prompted many to explore newer platforms. The Guardian has indicated that their shift away from X was not an impulsive decision but rather one that reflected a longer-term reassessment of their resource allocation and audience engagement strategies.

As these shifts unfold, the underlying structure of social media continues to evolve. Users increasingly perceive platforms like Bluesky as offering the “old Twitter feel,” characterized by genuine interactions and a diminished presence of bots. If these alternatives can maintain or enhance user experience, we may see a swift transition of audiences mirroring historical moves from platforms like Myspace.

While the future remains uncertain, Cammaerts warns that emerging platforms are not immune to the same troubling dynamics that currently plague established players. “As users migrate, they may simply be choosing between two evils, as all platforms operate under models that can commodify social interactions,” he cautioned.

The broader implications for public discourse and democratic engagement on social media are profound. The shift away from global platforms toward more fragmented channels suggests a potential transformation in how people interact online. As users increasingly favor closed groups and private messaging apps, the ideal of an open global conversation may become mere nostalgia.

As analysts and users ponder the future, one thing is clear: the landscape of social media is shifting beneath our feet, reshaping the way we connect, engage, and converse in an increasingly polarized world. What remains to be seen is which platforms will emerge as champions in this evolving digital ecosystem.