Bluesky is emerging as a serious challenger in the social media world. This decentralized platform is growing rapidly, attracting users worldwide. Its focus on privacy and user control is winning over those dissatisfied with existing platforms.
Bluesky’s Growth in Japan
In Japan, Bluesky is seeing remarkable success. Active user numbers on Android grew fivefold between October 2023 and October 2024. Daily active users continued to increase in early November.
Many Japanese users are unhappy with X (formerly Twitter). Changes to X’s terms of service, like allowing AI to use user data, caused a backlash. Users also criticized the removal of the blocking feature and an increase in ads.
Although X remains the largest platform in Japan, its daily active Android users dropped from 7.4 million to 6.7 million in the past year. Bluesky, despite having no office in Japan, has built a strong community there. The platform’s first user meetup in Japan highlighted its grassroots growth.
Global Success
Bluesky is gaining traction worldwide too. The platform reached 20 million users by November 2024. It saw a 300% surge in daily users after the U.S. elections on November 5.
Users appreciate Bluesky’s custom-curated feeds and decentralized model. These features give users more control over their social media experience. The platform uses the AT Protocol, an open-source system, to support its decentralized design.
Meta’s Threads has struggled in comparison. It initially grew fast after its launch in 2023 but slowed due to a lack of political content. Critics say this approach alienated users looking for deeper discussions.
Challenges and the Future
Bluesky still faces challenges. It has technical glitches, scammers, and a small team of 20 staff members. Despite this, its focus on user control and free expression is drawing in more users every day.
Meta has responded by updating Threads, introducing custom feeds and live event features. However, Bluesky’s unique approach is positioning it as a strong contender in the social media space.
