Gabrielle Union, Quinta Brunson, Don Lemon Quit X As Bluesky Users Soar
As discontent with Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) continues to grow, rival platforms like Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, and Spill are seeing a surge in users.
Bluesky, a decentralized social platform founded by ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, is experiencing an unprecedented surge in sign-ups—roughly one million new users daily, according to the BBC.
Among the latest prominent figures to exit X are actress Gabrielle Union and former CNN host Don Lemon, joining other celebrities and public figures migrating to Bluesky.
Why Are People Leaving X?
The high-profile exits reflect a broader trend among celebrities disillusioned with the platform. Many cite the X’s controversial content moderation policies. Pop artist Lizzo referenced the “toxicity” on X in an Instagram post about leaving the platform to join Bluesky.
Others, including activist Alyssa Milano and actor George Takei, said they left to align with platforms that better reflect their values following Elon Musk’s involvement in Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson also appears to left X for Bluesky.
Bluesky, with its promise of a decentralized and user-first social media experience, is emerging as a favored alternative. The platform offers familiar features such as posts, comments, and likes, closely resembling the Twitter of old.
However, Bluesky differentiates itself with its decentralized architecture, allowing users to host their data on personal servers rather than corporate-owned ones.
Despite these benefits, technical challenges like server outages have surfaced due to the rapid influx of users, according to the BBC.
Rival platforms see user surge
Bluesky’s app, initially launched as invitation-only, became widely available earlier this year and has since become one of the most downloaded free apps on the Apple App Store in regions like the UK and North America.
With a user base surpassing 16.7 million, the platform is gaining traction among those seeking a less contentious social media experience.
Notably, its appeal transcends politics. While X owner Elon Musk’s vocal support for figures like Donald Trump has spurred some users to leave, others are drawn by Bluesky’s innovative features and absence of ads.
Other social platforms such as SPILL have also seen an 1000% increase in signups week-on-week, while Threads is in second place on the App Store and Mastodon has seen a 47% increase in downloads.
Feature Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/ Getty Images
