Bluesky Surpasses 15 Million Users Amid Post-Election Surge

Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform built on the AT Protocol, has officially crossed the 15 million user milestone, driven by a recent surge in signups following the U.S. presidential election (via The Verge).

According to data from a tracking tool developed by Bluesky’s own developer, Jaz, utilizing the platform’s API, the platform added over a million new users in just the past week alone. The increase in Bluesky’s user base comes as more people, particularly from the U.S., flock to the platform for its unique take on short-form social posting.

Rose Wang, Bluesky’s COO, confirmed in an interview that the majority of these new users are based in the U.S., following the high-interest post-election period. The app’s popularity is evident in its current position as the number one app in the iOS App Store, outpacing major competitors like Threads, ChatGPT, and Google.

While Bluesky’s 15 million users are impressive, the platform still faces stiff competition from other social media giants. Meta’s Threads, for instance, has already surged past 275 million monthly users and continues to grow at a rate of over a million signups per day.

One of the standout features of Bluesky is its decentralized nature, which gives users more control over their online experience. Unlike Threads, which relies on a single Meta-developed algorithmic feed, Bluesky allows users to create and customize their own algorithmic feeds.

In addition to the standard “Discover” and “Popular With Friends” feeds, Bluesky users can curate their content and browsing experience to better suit their preferences.

The recent growth in Bluesky’s user base is a strong indicator that more people are looking for alternatives to mainstream social media platforms.

While Meta’s Threads continues to lead the pack in terms of user numbers, Bluesky is gaining traction by appealing to users who seek a more decentralized, ad-free experience.