With users leaving X (formerly Twitter) by the millions, Bluesky has quickly risen as a popular alternative. This relatively new platform was invitation-only until February of this year but has seen explosive growth since opening to the public. So what is Bluesky?
Bluesky’s design will feel familiar to Twitter users, featuring a “Discover” feed and a chronological timeline for accounts you follow. It also offers functionality like direct messaging, pinned posts, and “starter packs”— curated lists of people and custom feeds to help new users get started.
Bluesky by the Numbers
- As of mid-November, Bluesky has 15 million users, a staggering jump from 2 million just at the end of October.
- It’s now ranked as the #1 free app on the App Store, reflecting surging interest.
Why the Growth?
Many users are flocking to Bluesky in search of a fresh online space to share ideas, engage in meaningful discussions, and build communities free from the noise of crypto scam ads and hate speech that plague X.
What Brands Should Consider Before Ditching X
While Bluesky is gaining momentum, it’s still in its infancy, accounting for just 4% of X’s 386 million monthly active users. At this stage, we don’t recommend making it a major focus of your social media strategies just yet.
- It’s always a good idea to register usernames now to stay ahead of the curve – particularly for companies currently active on X or have recently de-prioritized X as part of their strategy due to the platform changes over the last year.
- For those actively using X, we don’t recommend changing that strategy for now. Maintain brand presence until the fate of both platforms becomes clearer. Some notable news brands have begun cross-posting (such as NPR and WaPo), but other big consumer brands have not yet joined (for example, Wendy’s who is famously active on Twitter, has not joined the platform).
- While we don’t recommend dedicating significant resources to it at this stage, any founders, executives or individuals in your company with a particular interest in social media should consider dedicating their own time to exploring the platform as there could be potential upside for quick audience growth.
As we continue monitoring Bluesky’s growth, we’re evaluating its potential as a meaningful addition to brands’ social media strategies. For now, we’ll be keeping an eye on its progress while exploring how our clients can stay positioned for success on emerging platforms.