Bluesky is currently in its formative phase, yet the social media platform is swiftly building momentum. It may already provide a more captivating environment for posting compared to Elon Musk’s X (previously known as Twitter).
Following the recent election, Bluesky’s expansion has skyrocketed significantly. The platform has risen to the upper echelons of the App Store charts and nearly doubled its user count to around 20 million users—and still growing. On one notably active day, Bluesky allegedly added roughly eight users every second.
### SEE ALSO: [X users are moving to Bluesky: Here’s a quick-start guide on how to register](https://mashable.com/article/getting-started-on-bluesky-guide)
This swift increase has brought about an intriguing transition: Bluesky might now present a superior atmosphere for meaningful interaction compared to X. Thanks to its groundbreaking **choose-your-own-algorithm model**, users can navigate the app’s Discover feed, adhere to a chronological Following feed, or delve into one of the numerous user-curated feeds. This versatility fosters a more genuine and tailored experience.
As someone who was previously seen as a [Twitter power user](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/study-twitter-skews-young-and-is-still-run-by-power-users.html)—boasting over 28,000 posts since joining in 2012 and a career heavily dependent on the platform—I was reluctant to abandon X, even as it declined under Musk’s guidance. However, I’m now re-evaluating my position.
### SEE ALSO: [Elon Musk’s X is disappointing and I’m not leaving](https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-staying-not-leaving)
Apart from the ethical dilemmas associated with X—of which there are many—the platform has simply turned less enjoyable. If you don’t subscribe for a blue checkmark, your posts are capped, limiting their visibility. And if one of your posts does manage to go viral, you’re often bombarded with spammy or troll-like responses from blue-check accounts.
For the majority of users, posting on X now resembles shouting into a void. Despite having a few thousand followers, my posts seldom garner likes or interaction, a stark contrast to the pre-Musk days. When engagement does occur, it can be unpleasant. For example, I recently muted a post that gained traction due to a flood of irritating replies. The platform has become so overwhelmed with spam and low-quality interactions that it’s challenging to enjoy the experience.
In contrast, on Bluesky, the atmosphere feels distinct. Though I’ve only just begun using the platform and have a modest 75 followers, the interactions I’ve observed have come from genuine individuals. My likes and replies seem authentic, and my new followers are real humans—not bots or spam accounts. In the meantime, my latest mention on X is a crypto scam, and my last three followers are spammy bots.
Others have noted this change, as well. NBC tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge has, for instance, remarked that engagement on Bluesky feels more sincere.
### SEE ALSO: [Screenshot: Bluesky / @kattenbarge.bsky.social](https://bsky.app/profile/kattenbarge.bsky.social)
I also discussed this with colleagues at Mashable who have been active on Bluesky.
“On Twitter, I’ve got over 7,000 followers. On [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/yelix.bsky.social), I have fewer than 2,000. But my posts seem like a ghost town on the former, while consistently obtaining at least a *little* bit of engagement on the latter,” stated Mashable tech and video games reporter Alex Perry. “It’s important to mention that 100 percent of replies I receive on Bluesky are from real people, not blue-check bots.”
Mashable reporter Matt Binder echoed this view, noting that Bluesky evokes memories of the old Twitter.
“Replying to an account genuinely has significance and can attract new followers and engagement. Now, on [X], it feels irrelevant,” Binder explained. “Replies are predominantly from blue checkmarks getting preferential treatment and AI-generated responses pushing for engagement. However, the substance of replies on Bluesky carries weight, just as it did on the old Twitter.”
Of course, transitioning to Bluesky necessitates starting anew. But it also presents an opportunity for more genuine interactions and a social media platform that truly caters to its users.