Social media platform Bluesky has experienced a significant influx of users, gaining about 2.5 million new accounts in the past week, following Donald Trump’s election as U.S. President and an upcoming controversial change to X’s terms of service. The surge raises Bluesky’s user base to over 16 million as it positions itself as an alternative to the Elon Musk-owned platform.
“We’re seeing record-high engagement across likes, follows, and new accounts. We’re on track to add 1 million new users in a single day,” Bluesky announced.
This rapid growth coincides with several high-profile exits from X, including organizations like the Center for Countering Digital Hate, The Guardian, and public figures such as former CNN anchor Don Lemon. These departures stem from concerns about content moderation and the impending terms change, which some fear could limit legal recourse against the platform.
The Impact of Misinformation and Trump’s Victory
During the election, X was criticized by misinformation experts for enabling the spread of false claims about key battleground states. The platform saw a surge of activity on Nov. 6, with 46.5 million visits in the U.S.—the highest in the past year, according to SimilarWeb. However, the same day saw over 115,000 U.S. users deactivating their X accounts, the largest drop since Musk’s acquisition.
While X saw increased visits, Bluesky also attracted attention, recording 1.2 million website visitors on Nov. 6, outpacing Meta-owned Threads, which saw 950,000 visitors. Threads, however, retains more users on its app.
“Bluesky’s growth may be driven by technical issues or controversial content on X, leading users to seek alternatives,” said Abraham Yousef, senior insights analyst at Sensor Tower.
Terms of Service Controversy
Bluesky’s rise comes ahead of a significant change to X’s terms of service, set to take effect on Friday. The new terms mandate that all legal disputes be filed exclusively in Texas courts, specifically the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas or state courts in Tarrant County.
Critics argue this shift could hinder lawsuits against X, giving Musk an advantage in selecting courts perceived as favorable to him. The Center for Countering Digital Hate condemned the change, stating it could stifle accountability and embolden hate speech on the platform.
“Now Musk can steer legal challenges toward courts he believes will support him, potentially silencing opposition,” the organization said.
Competitive Landscape
Despite Bluesky’s growth, its user base remains smaller than rivals. Threads boasts 252 million monthly active users, and X leads with approximately 317 million, according to Sensor Tower data.
Analysts believe X’s association with Trump could bolster its appeal among certain audiences. “X is better positioned with Trump’s presence, as microblogging benefits from strong network effects,” said D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria.
Nonetheless, the combined impact of user dissatisfaction with X and Bluesky’s momentum could signal a shift in the social media landscape as platforms vie to attract disillusioned users.
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