In recent discussions, Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, shared his insights on the rapid growth of Bluesky, a platform he also helped establish. Dorsey attributes this expansion primarily to users fleeing from X (formerly Twitter) rather than being drawn to Bluesky’s unique features. This migration has been fueled by various changes and controversies surrounding X since Elon Musk’s acquisition. Despite these challenges, Bluesky aims to offer users more control over their experience through innovative features like customizable algorithms. The platform officially launched in February 2024 and has seen significant user growth, reaching nearly 26 million users by year-end.
Dorsey emphasized that while Bluesky's current surge is driven by dissatisfaction with X, the platform's long-term success depends on offering distinct and compelling features. He highlighted the importance of giving users greater agency and control over their social media experience. Additionally, Bluesky CEO Jay Graber assured that the platform is designed to be resilient against similar issues faced by Twitter, ensuring users can easily migrate without losing their data or connections.
The Driving Force Behind Bluesky's Growth
The primary reason for Bluesky's rapid rise is attributed to users seeking an alternative to X. Since Elon Musk took over, numerous changes have led to widespread discontent among the user base. Dorsey noted that people are not necessarily attracted to Bluesky's specific offerings but are instead moving away from X due to personal reasons or dissatisfaction with recent modifications. This sentiment underscores the need for Bluesky to focus on building unique features that genuinely attract users.
Bluesky's initial development began as an internal project at Twitter in 2019, evolving into a standalone public benefit corporation by 2021. Dorsey stepped down as Twitter's CEO in the same year, marking a shift in his focus towards Bluesky. He expressed excitement about the platform's ability to offer users more control over algorithms, which he believes will eventually become a key attraction. However, Dorsey acknowledged that this feature is not yet a priority for many users who are currently focused on escaping the issues with X.
Bluesky's Vision and Unique Features
Despite its rapid growth, Bluesky aims to distinguish itself through innovation and user empowerment. CEO Jay Graber highlighted the platform's commitment to building an open-source social network, allowing anyone to take ownership and contribute to its development. This approach ensures that Bluesky remains resilient to external pressures and provides users with unprecedented control over their social media experience. Unlike traditional platforms, Bluesky does not allow advertisers to show algorithmically recommended ads, further enhancing user autonomy.
Dorsey criticized Bluesky for initially repeating some of Twitter's mistakes but praised its efforts to build an algorithm store, enabling users to choose their own algorithms. He believes this feature will eventually draw users who value customization and control. The company has also outlined plans to improve custom feeds, including in-app feed creation and user-submitted posts. These enhancements aim to create a more personalized and engaging social media environment. Overall, Bluesky's vision of a decentralized, user-centric platform represents a radical departure from conventional social media models.