WAPO: Bluesky, the app some X users are defecting to

How to get started on Bluesky, the app some X users are defecting to

Some people say they’re quitting Elon Musk’s X. For real this time.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/11/14/how-join-bluesky-handle-users-social-media/

After X owner Elon Musk helped President-elect Donald Trump successfully run for the nation’s highest office, some users on the social media site are jumping ship for other options.

A collection of X users — in some cases, high-profile accounts including TV anchor Don Lemon and LGBTQ activist Alejandra Caraballo — posted their intentions after the election to switch to Bluesky, a Twitter-esque app launched by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey in 2019. Bluesky has a small base of users compared with major social media platforms, but it gives people more control over what they see. On Bluesky, people can build their own algorithms and share them with others, rather than everyone relying on one top-down algorithm that changes at the whims of company leaders.

This isn’t the first time X users have defected. After Musk acquired the platform in 2022 and changed the app’s features and algorithm, some migrated to Bluesky, the open-source platform Mastodon or Meta’s Threads in protest. Amid the upheaval over Musk-era changes, X usage dropped by as much as 30 percent, some firms estimate. The app ranks 11th among the 12 most popular social media apps, according to 2024 data from Pew Research, behind Reddit and above photo app BeReal.

Bluesky, meanwhile, has seen a spike of search interest in the United States during the past week as some voters reckon with Musk’s involvement in the Trump campaign and his official role in the president-elect’s upcoming administration. It has also gained 1 million followers since the election, according to a report from the Associated Press. The app, which started as a bastion for the techy, could be a good place to share your musings if you’re leaving X — for real this time.

What’s different about Bluesky?

Bluesky was the brainchild of Dorsey and others who were interested in building a more open social network where users could control their experiences. It separated from Twitter in 2022, and its current chief executive is software developer Jay Graber.

Unlike X, where a single company owns the software, content and community, people on Bluesky can run the app on their own servers (that’s why it’s called “decentralized”) and build custom algorithms to surface posts they want to see.

The tech-savvy can set up their own themed “feeds,” such as the app’s “Science” feed that shows posts from science researchers, teachers and artists. But anyone can add feeds to a personal collection and toggle between different algorithms and communities.

Who is Bluesky good for?

Bluesky doesn’t bill itself as a digital town square like X or a clearinghouse for internet culture like TikTok. It’s built a reputation for low-key discussions, tailored topics and small communities.

If you’re looking to reach the masses or build a monetizable following, this might not be the digital home for you. But if you’re interested in a social media experience without ads or opaque algorithms, it’ll be a better fit than X, which has been prioritizing right-leaning accounts, or Threads, where a confusing feed often surfaces outdated posts.

How do I make an account?

Download the Bluesky app from the Apple or Google app stores or visit bsky.app. You’ll create a username and password and provide your email address and birthday.

Once you’re set up, you’ll notice the app looks a lot like X. You can use the “discover” feed to browse posts from strangers or the “following” feed to see content from your friends.

Head over to the feeds tab and add a few you think are interesting. You can also use the search bar to hunt for specific feeds, like “Dungeons & Dragons” or “U.S. Politics.” Or, check out one of the app’s many “starter packs” that help you follow experts that post about a given topic.

Can I bring my followers from X?

Sort of. There are tools such as the Chrome extension Sky Follower Bridge that help you discover your existing friends or followers on Bluesky. It will even automatically follow them.

To use it, add Sky Follower Bridge to Google’s search engine Chrome. To do so, go to this page and click “add to Chrome.” Then go to X.com and open up your follower or following lists.

Next, navigate to the toolbar to the right of the URL bar and click on the puzzle piece icon to see your extensions. Choose Sky Follower Bridge and type in your Bluesky username and password. (Note that you’ll need to add the server name as well, like [username]. bsky.[server], or in my case, tatumhunter.bsky.social.)

The tool should start searching through your X list automatically, which you’ll see in a pop-up window. Give it about five minutes, then click on “view results,” then “follow all.” Those people will see that you followed them and can add you back.

What is Bluesky and why is it becoming a popular alternative to Twitter?