What Is Bluesky? Guide To The X Competitor
Over the past two years, many users have looked for alternatives to X (formerly Twitter). While platforms like Mastodon and Post briefly gained traction, few have matched the momentum of Bluesky. As of February 2025, Bluesky has crossed 30 million users. This growth was partly driven by controversial changes at X, such as alterations to the block feature and the platform’s policy of allowing AI training on public posts. Consequently, users—especially after the 2024 U.S. election—began migrating in significant numbers, including a wave of Taylor Swift fans.
However, Bluesky’s pace has recently slowed. While it made a splash on the App Store, it still trails Meta’s Threads, which boasts 275 million monthly active users. Even so, Bluesky continues to gain attention due to its unique approach to social networking.
A Decentralised Vision for Social Media
Bluesky stands out because it isn’t just another Twitter clone. It’s a decentralised social platform first envisioned by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Although Dorsey launched the idea in 2019 while still at Twitter, Bluesky has evolved independently. It’s now a public benefit corporation led by CEO Jay Graber, with Dorsey no longer serving on the board as of May 2024.
The platform runs on the AT Protocol, an open-source framework that allows outside developers to observe and contribute. As a result, Bluesky offers transparency, something many users are now demanding from tech companies. Moreover, its federated design and community-specific moderation allow users more control over their experience. Because of these features, Bluesky appeals to those seeking autonomy, clarity, and algorithmic choice.
How Does Bluesky Work?
Getting started is simple. Once signed up, users can select a handle like @username.bsky.social or customise it using a personal domain. Posts are capped at 256 characters and can include images. Like X, users can reply, repost, like, report, and share updates.
Initially, Bluesky featured a “What’s Hot” feed, but it has since introduced a personalised “Discover” feed. This offers trending content alongside suggestions tailored to user interests. In January 2025, the platform also added a vertical video feed and a video tab to user profiles, expanding its multimedia capabilities.
To ease onboarding, new users receive a “Starter Pack” with curated profiles and feeds. Features like bios, profile pictures, and follower counts mirror what social media users expect. Additionally, the app offers a Discover tab with follow suggestions and fresh content. While Bluesky may still be catching up in scale, it’s clearly shaping its own sky-blue path forward.
