Bluesky's user count has skyrocketed to over 9 million, fueled by an addition of 3 million newcomers. The 50% spike occurred in just over a week following a ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, by a Brazilian court. Bluesky's surge has been dramatic since its started to benefit from X's ban.
Brazilian Court Decision Sparks Bluesky Surge
Bluesky began in 2019 as a Twitter initiative aimed at creating an open, decentralized social protocol. Since then, it has transitioned into an independent public benefit corporation. Jack Dorsey, Twitter's founder, vacated his position on the Bluesky board earlier this year, emphasizing its autonomous status. The company then left its invite-only phase and became generally available.
The prohibition of X resulted from a dispute involving the platform and Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, linked to X's refusal to block accounts accused of disseminating election disinformation. Subsequent to this, X announced its intention to withdraw operations from Brazil. In response, the court imposed a ban on the platform and levied fines against users who utilized virtual private networks to circumvent the restriction.
Upon the implementation of the ban, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva encouraged citizens to transition to alternative social media platforms, commencing with Bluesky. A substantial number of users subsequently explored these novel platforms, sharing their experiences and reestablishing online connections. Nonetheless, the absence of certain features, such as “trending topics,” led some users to express a desire for additional functionalities.
Addressing Technical Hurdles Amid User Surge
Bluesky's rapid growth has posed some operational challenges. The increase in activity has led to intermittent technical issues, which the company is actively addressing. Despite these hurdles, the platform is advancing its development and feature set.
Bluesky's transition from a Twitter-associated project to an independent firm highlights its potential in the social media landscape. The platform's ability to amass millions of users, notably in response to regulatory actions against its rivals, signals its increasing influence and user appeal.
