Bluesky has quickly emerged as one of the most compelling new platforms for real-time conversation and open discourse. Originally conceived as a research initiative at Twitter in 2019 before spinning out as an independent company, the Bluesky team developed the AT Protocol — an open-source, decentralized network that enables user data portability, interoperability between different platforms, and algorithmic choice. Bluesky’s growth accelerated in the wake of user disillusionment with X from Elon Musk’s 2022 takeover of the platform and after switching from invite-only to a public platform in February 2023, attracting journalists, public figures, and regular users seeking a platform that prioritizes transparency and healthy communities.

Background

Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022. However, his open hostility toward certain journalists and news organizations, combined with what many perceived as a rightward tilt in how content was amplified and moderated, alienated large communities of reporters and left-leaning users.

Amid this fragmentation, Bluesky has experienced significant growth, but lack of sustained usage. Bluesky’s rapid rise was strongly driven by political events. Following the most recent U.S. presidental election, its user base doubled twice in two weeks, with 7.85 million downloads in November 2024 alone (Bluesky internal stats). As of May 2026, Bluesky has over 44 million users. The United States makes up about 50% of website traffic, followed by Japan and Brazil.

Algorithm

Rather than funneling content through a single centralized algorithm optimized for ad revenue, Bluesky offers a "marketplace of algorithms,” a library of over 100,000 user-built feeds from which anyone can choose, giving users more control over what they see. This is in sharp contrast to the engagement-driven ranking systems that have drawn criticism on rival platforms.

A graph depicting the growth of users on Bluesky from October 2024 to May 2026. Source of user count: https://bsky-users.theo.io/.

Moderation

Alongside algorithmic choice, the platform offers stackable moderation, allowing users to subscribe to independent moderation services and build their own. In April 2025, the platform also introduced an account verification system, proactively verifying notable accounts and giving selected "Trusted Verifiers" the ability to authenticate others, a more credible approach than the paid checkmarks that controversially replaced Twitter's original verification model.

Bluesky does struggle with AI bots, with users encountering impersonation accounts and bots that spam following and are associated with popular scams. Foreign disinformation has also found its way onto the platform, with reports of Russian agents hacking into real accounts to post pro-Russia and anti-Ukraine content. While the platform employs AI-assisted content moderation and labelling and offers users tools such as reporting and blocking to manage their own experience, whether these developments can keep pace with increasingly sophisticated bots remains an unresolved challenge.

Unique tools

One of Bluesky's most practical onboarding tools is its Starter Pack feature, which allows users to bundle together a curated selection of accounts and custom feeds that others can follow in a single click.

Designed primarily with newcomers in mind, Starter Packs solve one of the most common frustrations of joining a new social platform — the blank slate problem, where a fresh account offers little guidance on who to follow or where to find interesting content.

A starter pack for independent journalists who provide U.S./international commentary.

By allowing established users to package their recommendations into a shareable experience, Bluesky effectively lets its own community do the heavy lifting of onboarding, creating a more personalized introduction to the platform than an algorithm-driven suggestion list could provide.

Organizations, journalists, and community leaders have embraced the feature as a way to quickly bring their audiences and interests over to Bluesky.

Bluesky's Explore page functions as the platform's primary discovery and search engine. The Explore page surfaces trending topics marked with indicators showing how recently they began gaining traction, alongside suggested accounts organized by interest categories ranging from science and politics to sports, books, and art.

It also highlights popular Starter Packs and custom feeds, giving users a clear pathway into specific communities and subcultures. Additionally, the Explore page allows users to input their own interests to further personalize what they are shown.

An example of a Bluesky Explore page.

Conclusion

Users prefer Bluesky for its left-leaning community and greater control over algorithmic and content moderation. They utilize features like Starter Packs and the Explore page to access reliable news and discover new subcommunities. While the platform does struggle with bots and some unmarked AI-generated content, its stronger moderation efforts and the data portability of the AT Protocol keep it an attractive and credible alternative for users seeking a healthier social media experience.