Bluesky, the decentralized social network once incubated by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, has crossed 30 million users as of February 2025, emerging as one of the fastest-growing Twitter alternatives. The surge follows controversial changes at X (formerly Twitter), including tweaks to the block feature and allowing AI training on user posts, as well as political moments like the 2024 U.S. election, which spurred an exodus of users, including high-profile Taylor Swift fans.
Despite its momentum, Bluesky still trails far behind Meta’s Threads, which boasts 275 million monthly active users. Offering a Twitter-like interface with algorithmic choice, custom feeds, and no plans to use posts for AI training, Bluesky aims to set itself apart through transparency, community-driven moderation, and a federated architecture built on its open-source AT Protocol. The platform is now free, open to the public, and eyeing paid premium features, but without the “pay-to-win” model of X.
Prominent political figures, celebrities, and media outlets have joined, and the company has expanded its moderation team to meet rising safety demands. While growth has slowed, Bluesky’s mix of decentralization, customizability, and user-first policies keeps it firmly in the social media race.
