Bluesky Sees Record User Growth As Twitter Changes Spark Outrage

Twitter’s Changes Causing User Exodus

The surge in Bluesky users appears to be directly related to the changes at Twitter. One of the changes is Twitter’s new privacy policy which will allow third party developers to train AI models on user data starting November 15. The policy has users up in arms about data privacy as there is no opt out.

Yikes indeed

Also, the whole reason to move to Bluesky is kind of moot when BlueSky themselves, like all other social medias, use user datas to train AIs, the only difference is that unlike X, all the others are sneaky about it

— Yoshimoto Caelius🎖️⚔️UCA Vtuber – Debut June 1st (@YoshimotoCaeliu) October 19, 2024

To make matters worse, Twitter is changing its blocking feature and giving users less control over their experience on the platform. Under the new policy, blocking someone will no longer prevent that person from seeing your content, which raises concerns about harassment and online safety.

And Twitter’s move to change its legal jurisdiction from California to the Northern District of Texas has raised some eyebrows. Critics say this is in line with Musk’s more conservative views since the Texas court is known for being pro-conservative. This has the user base upset.

Bluesky Is Capitalizing on Twitter’s Chaos

While Twitter is getting roasted, Bluesky is taking advantage of the situation to tout its “user-first” approach. The decentralized platform has been loud and clear about user control and online safety vs Twitter’s policy changes.

Bluesky’s X (formerly Twitter) account called out Twitter’s changes directly, “At Bluesky we take online safety seriously. If you want to block someone you can! It’s your experience to customize.” The tweet went viral and users are loving it.

The influx of users to Bluesky was so big that the platform’s servers went down due to the traffic surge. Bluesky’s app also went to the top 5 on Apple’s iOS App Store in the US and #1 in countries like Japan.

Twitter’s Financial Woes Deepen As Competition Grows

As Bluesky’s user base grows, Twitter is facing a huge decline in value. According to Fidelity’s latest estimates, Twitter’s market cap is now at $9.4 billion, down 80% from the $44 billion Musk paid for it in 2022. Advertisers are pulling back due to brand safety and stability concerns.

To regain trust, Bluesky is doubling down on its decentralized user controlled model, a stark contrast to Twitter’s centralized approach. The latest updates and transparency are resonating and bringing in not only former Twitter users but also those who value privacy and control over their digital footprint.

“Bluesky’s user control and online safety is exactly what the market needs right now” tweeted Jack Dorsey, Bluesky co-founder and former Twitter CEO. “Decentralization is the future of social media.”

The user influx has also accelerated Bluesky’s development plans. The platform announced a series of updates coming soon to improve user experience and security features including stronger content moderation tools and more customization options for blocking and muting.

This awakened new move from Twitter to Bluesky has furthered attempts from people to completely shut me down, as I've had more people block me in more than just Twitter, even at my "fresh new start".

It's very calculated, very coordinated, and very heinous.

— The Faceless Lurker 🔞 (PM for Availability/Info) (@AFacelessLurker) October 19, 2024

Highlights:

• Bluesky Growth: 12M+ users, 1M+ in 48 hours

• Twitter’s Mess: Twitter is getting roasted over AI data usage, blocking changes and Texas jurisdiction.

• Bluesky’s Play: User-first approach is paying off big time.

What’s Next for Twitter and Bluesky?

As Bluesky is gaining traction, it’s unclear if Twitter can get its platform back on track with user dissatisfaction and financial woes mounting. With Bluesky growing its user base and capitalizing on Twitter’s mess, the decentralized platform’s rapid growth means a changing of the guard in social media. Users now have alternatives that value transparency and user control – what Twitter once was. In the next few months Bluesky’s growth will depend on platform stability and a user first approach. Twitter’s policy changes and market woes will have a big impact on its future in a increasingly competitive space.