Are the Days of Elon Musk’s X Over?

Since billionaire Elon Musk acquired X (Formerly Twitter), it has been embroiled in multiple controversies. It’s 2024, yet again, and X has fallen into serious trouble!

Elon Musk's endorsement of Donald Trump's presidential campaign has led many X users to seek alternatives. Musk created a super PAC and spent about $200 million promoting Trump's policies. Many users have stated that if Trump won, they would leave X.

Since the election, a new social networking platform, Bluesky, has gained over a million new users as people want to avoid offensive posts and false information on X. Bluesky is a microblogging and social media platform that resembles X's experience.?

Due to its almost identical experience, netizens consider it a clone of X. However, Bluesky is one of many competitors for X. For example, Mastodon had over 400,000 monthly users in the past. However, in recent years, it has experienced stagnant growth.

In such a crowded market, what is making Bluesky stand out and attract users from X? Above all, will it truly succeed while others have failed?

Let’s find out in this article!?

Before that, let’s understand Bluesky first.

What is Bluesky???

Let’s first begin with an interesting fact!

Bluesky started in 2019 as an internal Twitter project by its former CEO, Jack Dorsey. In its initial stage, it was an invite-only platform.

In 2021, it became a separate, independent company, which CEO Jay Gruber currently runs. Twitter funded BlueSky until Elon Musk acquired it in 2022. In 2023, it was launched as an invite-only platform, and by 2024, it was opened to the public. BlueSky is a text-based social media platform that is an alternative to Twitter.

Some similarities between Bluesky and X are:

• Bluesky's text-based posts are restricted to 300 characters to adhere to the microblogging format. It has a 256-character restriction.

• Both contain text, photographs, and videos. Users can follow each other, re-post, like other postings, and send direct messages. You can create user-specific custom feeds to organize various accounts conveniently.

• Both platforms allow users to mute or block others, but here’s a twist that makes Bluesky the favorite of users- “It is open and decentralized!” is open and decentralized.?

A spokesperson, Emily Liu, emailed USA TODAY, "Unlike other closed platforms, Bluesky is an open social network that gives users choice, developers the freedom to build, and creators independence from the platform."

Here are some statistics on how Bluesky is growing quickly to rival X.

• The live tracker shows over 20 million active users on the platform.?

• On Election Day and the day after, more than 115,000 accounts were deactivated on X, the highest number since Elon Musk took control of the platform.

• The US, UK, and Canada are the leading countries contributing to this recent user spike. Due to the sudden spike in users, the website has occasionally decreased.?

Bluesky is not just another alternative; it's a platform that aims to reshape user interaction online through a community-based approach.

Is Bluesky Just a Clone of X?

While Bluesky shares several features with X, as we mentioned earlier, it distinguishes itself through its decentralized architecture. Unlike X's centralized model, Bluesky employs the Authenticated Transfer Protocol (ATP). This shift towards decentralization enhances user experience and promotes community-driven moderation.?

Let’s explore more in detail!

Decentralization

One of the biggest distinctions between X and Bluesky is their decentralized nature. Because Bluesky uses the ATP, users can select their servers and manage data. This is in direct contrast to X's centralized model, in which a single entity controls all data and content.

• User-Controlled Data: Users can host their servers or select from various community-run servers, granting them greater control over their data.
• Custom Domains: Bluesky allows users to create handles using custom domains (e.g., @yourname.bsky.social), enhancing personalization and ownership of digital identities.

Algorithmic Choices

While X utilizes algorithm-driven feeds that prioritize trending topics and advertisements, Bluesky allows users to see content primarily from accounts they follow. This arrangement resembles the reverse chronological timeline of early Twitter. This simplicity appeals to users who prefer a more straightforward social media experience without the noise of algorithmic interference.

Customization Options

Bluesky introduces features like customizable feeds and the option to create "Starter Packs" to help new users find exciting profiles. These solutions increase user engagement by enabling users to customize their experience based on their interests.?

Unlike X, Bluesky's hashtag system gives users more control over material accessibility. It allows users to view posts from specific accounts with certain tags or to mute them entirely.

Moderation Choices

Bluesky provides users with tools to manage their interactions effectively. For example, users can create moderation lists to mute or block groups of accounts.

Ad-Free Environment

Unlike X, which incorporates advertising as a primary revenue model, Bluesky operates without ads. This ad-free environment fosters a focus on community engagement rather than monetization strategies that often detract from user experience.

Transparency and Open Source Development

Bluesky's development is based on openness. Because the platform is built on an open-source foundation, outside developers can understand it and help shape it. This transparency aligns with X's usually complex decision-making processes for algorithms and content filtering.

Focus on Privacy

Bluesky positions itself as a platform that prioritizes user privacy. Unlike X, which has faced criticism for changes in privacy policies under new management, Bluesky has made it clear that it has no intention of using user-generated content for training AI models or other commercial purposes. This commitment resonates with users seeking a safer online environment.

Conclusion

The Bluesky case study offers a valuable lesson for startup owners and entrepreneurs who want to build a social media app. The demand for transparency, customization, and community-driven moderation is stronger than ever, and Bluesky is capitalizing on this trend.?

Its unique features, such as the decentralized architecture and customizable feeds, set it apart from competitors. This shows that offering an alternative to the audience with a customer-centric approach can disrupt the market.?

So, if you are looking for social media app development solutions to become the next X or, even better, beat it, we are here to help. Contact us today, and let’s start building the future of social media!