Bluesky adds 700,000 new users in a week

The decentralized social media platform Bluesky has experienced remarkable growth, adding over 700,000 new users in a single week, bringing its total user base to an impressive 14.5 million. According to Bluesky's Chief Operating Officer Rose Wang, this surge in adoption has been predominantly driven by users from the United States. The platform's momentum is reflected in its current standing as the second most popular free social networking application in the US App Store, surpassed only by Meta's Threads.

This growth comes at a time when Threads, despite its Instagram-backed launch and initial success, faces increasing scrutiny from its user base. Users have voiced multiple concerns about the platform's current state, particularly regarding the prevalence of engagement-baiting content and what many perceive as inadequate content moderation. Additionally, there is growing concern about the spread of misinformation on the platform, as documented by technology journalist Taylor Lorenz.

A particularly contentious issue with Threads has been its algorithmic "For You" feed, which has drawn criticism for its persistent nature and lack of user control. This feature has become a point of frustration for many users, including technology journalist Tom Warren, who has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the inability to permanently opt out of this algorithmic content curation. This sentiment appears to be widely shared among the platform's user base.

The contrasting trajectories of these platforms highlight an interesting shift in social media user preferences, with Bluesky's decentralized approach gaining traction while Threads grapples with challenges typical of traditional centralized social networks. This development suggests a potential evolution in how users engage with social media platforms and their expectations regarding content curation and platform governance.

These developments occur within a broader context of changing social media dynamics, where users increasingly prioritize control over their experience and transparency in content moderation. The success of Bluesky's recent growth spurt might indicate a growing appetite for alternatives to conventional social media platforms, particularly among users seeking more agency in their social media experience.