Bluesky's User Base Doubles as Users Flee X Amid Trump Influence and Content Shifts

As Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) faces growing scrutiny and user dissatisfaction, Bluesky, a rising competitor, has surged to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store’s chart, boasting a user base that has doubled in the past 90 days. This influx of new users comes amid a shift in X’s content and moderation policies, heavily influenced by Musk’s vocal support for President-elect Donald Trump and increased tolerance for extremist content.

Bluesky reported gaining 1 million new users within the past week alone, pushing its total user base to over 15 million. This spike in sign-ups followed an exodus of prominent figures from X, including journalists like The Atlantic’s Charlie Warzel and former CNN anchor Don Lemon. The Guardian also announced it would cease posting on X, citing it as a “toxic media platform.”

Under Musk’s leadership, X has restored banned accounts, reduced moderation, and promoted pro-Trump content, leading to increased usage from right-leaning users and a surge in divisive language. Musk’s approach has alienated users who now find greater engagement on Bluesky, despite having fewer followers on the new platform. Market analysis shows Bluesky saw daily visits jump on Election Day and the following day, with more users turning to it as a preferred alternative to X.

Meanwhile, Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 has granted him unprecedented political influence, including an official role in Trump’s incoming administration as co-leader of the “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. This role, coupled with Musk’s involvement in recent discussions with global leaders, is seen as a sign of Musk leveraging his platform’s influence despite X’s declining ad revenue and user base.