Bluesky has experienced remarkable growth since the U.S. presidential election, attracting users seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X platform, which has seen a rise in political polarization under Musk’s leadership. Users disillusioned with Meta’s Threads and its algorithm have also turned to Bluesky, which emerged from the company that was once Twitter, founded by Jack Dorsey. The platform’s decentralized nature offers an alternative to centralized social networks, positioning itself as a possible challenger to Twitter and other major platforms.
However, this rapid growth — with the user base now exceeding 25 million — has led to significant challenges for the relatively young platform. As Bluesky gains more attention, it has also attracted bots designed to promote political division and direct users to dubious websites. This surge of fake accounts, along with the increase in user activity, has become the primary test for the platform’s scalability.
Bluesky’s user base saw an incredible jump of 295.4% in just one month, from October to November, according to Similarweb. The platform added 7.6 million new active users across iOS and Android devices in November alone, with a total of 56.2 million web visits during the same period. Aside from the U.S. elections, Bluesky received additional attention when X was briefly banned in Brazil, further boosting the platform’s visibility and user acquisition.
Despite this growth, Bluesky faces several pressing issues. Bots, particularly those generating political disinformation, have infiltrated the platform. Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University, warned that Bluesky has now reached the point where malicious actors find it worthwhile to flood the platform with spam, exploiting the lack of financial resources and manpower that larger platforms possess. Bluesky started as an invitation-only network, which allowed it time to implement moderation tools, but as it opens to the wider public, the demands for robust content control and rapid response are mounting.
Bluesky has been commended for its approach to user control, giving individuals the ability to personalize their online experience. In contrast to the dominance of major tech giants, Bluesky champions its decentralized model, positioning itself as a counterpoint to platforms like Meta and X. Claire Wardle, an expert in misinformation, highlighted that Bluesky’s value system is designed to give users greater control over their experience, although this has led to its own set of challenges as the platform grows in popularity.
The platform also faces an increasing number of impersonator accounts and AI-driven networks designed to spread misinformation. Some users have reported encountering AI bots that generate divisive content or plagiarized articles. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and researcher in the Netherlands, discovered a network of German-language accounts with similar profiles and AI-generated images, posting automated replies on news stories.
To combat these threats, Bluesky has increased its moderation efforts by expanding its team and introducing new measures to detect impersonation. Users are also given the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers,” who assist in moderating content. These steps demonstrate that Bluesky is aware of its growing pains and is actively addressing the issues associated with an expanding user base.
Despite the challenges, Bluesky remains committed to its vision of a decentralized social network where users have more control over their content. However, as the platform continues to grow, it will need to address political polarization and ensure that its user experience doesn’t fall victim to the same issues that have plagued its larger counterparts.
As Bluesky navigates these hurdles, it is clear that the platform is at a critical juncture. Whether it can maintain its growth trajectory while tackling bots and misinformation will be a determining factor in its ability to compete with the likes of TikTok, Instagram, and other dominant social networks.
For more information on the rise of decentralized social platforms and their impact on social media dynamics, check out TechCrunch.
