Bluesky gains million users after Trump win

The social media platform Bluesky gained over 1.25 million new users following Donald Trump’s presidential victory on November 5. CNBC reports that these users predominantly hail from the USA, Canada, and the UK. CEO Jay Graber welcomes those seeking a better social media experience. Bluesky’s total user count now stands at 15.2 million, comparatively small next to Elon Musk’s ‘X’ platform’s alleged 600 million monthly users; however, Sensor Tower estimates ‘X’s actual user base at 318 million. Bluesky transitioned from an invite-only to open registration in February 2024 and originated as a Twitter project before becoming separate in 2022. Musk, having acquired Twitter in October 2022 and rebranded it ‘X’, will now also work in Trump’s administration to reduce bureaucracy. The Guardian has stopped using its official ‘X’ account, criticizing it as toxic. Meta’s Threads reports 275 million monthly users.