Bluesky's Big Break: 856,000 Users Flood In a Day After Invite-Free Launch

Social media platform Bluesky witnessed an extraordinary surge in user sign-ups, reaching a staggering 856,000 on Feb. 7, just a day after removing its invite-only registration.

The development of the microblogging site marked a significant increase from the previous day's 200,000 new users and the daily figures of 62,000 to 64,000 observed earlier, as reported by ZDNet. Bluesky's total user count soared past 4 million, doubling from the 2 million reported three months ago and surpassing the 3 million disclosed earlier in the week.

Despite encountering technical hiccups, including intermittent feed outages acknowledged by a Bluesky team member, the platform continued to attract new users. According to TechCrunch, Bluesky developer Paul Frazee attributed the glitches to a surge in database usage, causing a "multi-polar tachyon flow," highlighting the platform's technical challenges.

A Decentralized Alternative to X (Formerly Twitter)

Launched a year ago, Bluesky initially aimed at iPhone users, positioning itself as a controversy-free alternative to Elon Musk's X. While Bluesky's user base has expanded significantly, with over 4 million users, it lags behind Meta's Threads, boasting more than 130 million users, and Musk's X, with an impressive 556 million user count.

Since its public launch on February 6, 2024, Bluesky, the social platform that Jack Dorsey helped fund, has welcomed over 1 million users. Users are no longer required to wait for invites, offering more accessibility to those seeking an alternative social media platform. Bluesky operates similarly to X but with a decentralized structure, providing users more freedom of expression and enhanced privacy.

Bluesky Features

Getting started with Bluesky is simple. According to Philstar Life, one may visit bsky.app, create an account by entering your email, password, and birthdate, verify your phone number, and choose your Bluesky handle. The platform allows posts of up to 300 characters, distinguishes itself from X's 280-character limit for basic, non-paid accounts, and supports sharing links, photos, and videos. Bluesky's interface, reminiscent of X, introduces unique tabs, including a dedicated moderation tab for comprehensive content filtering and user management.

Bluesky implements unique moderation methods. It reportedly utilizes automated moderation and plans to introduce a community labeling system akin to shared mute or block lists. Unlike other platforms with algorithm-driven feeds, Bluesky offers users the option to select from various algorithms to curate their content.

Users can mute accounts to stop receiving notifications or top-level posts from them. Blocking accounts further restricts interaction, preventing both parties from viewing or engaging with each other's posts. Additionally, users can report abusive posts or accounts, per CNET.

Creators with a Bluesky fanbase can remain in touch with their followers even if the service changes.

Bluesky operates ad-free, with no premium version available. Users can convert their accounts into domains, removing the ".bsky.social" from their usernames. The platform is accessible on the web, App Store, and Google Play, providing users an alternative social media experience.