In an unexpected and thrilling development, social networking startup Bluesky has experienced a meteoric rise with a surge of half a million new users in just a day. This has propelled the app into the top 5 rankings on the U.S. App Store and it now proudly stands as the No. 2 app in the Social Networking category, an impressive leap from its previous position of No. 181 just a week ago. The remarkable growth is entirely organic, with no reliance on App Store Search Ads, according to insights from app intelligence firm Appfigures.
Bluesky’s upward trajectory isn’t confined to the U.S. alone. It has broken into the top 10 rankings in several other countries, demonstrating significant four-digit growth in downloads. The app now ranks No. 1 in Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan; No. 2 in Hong Kong; No. 4 in Canada and South Korea; and No. 8 in Singapore.
While data from Google Play is lagging behind, early indicators suggest that Bluesky’s popularity is climbing there as well. At 4 AM EST, Bluesky shifted from No. 100 to an impressive No. 5 in the Social Networking category on the Android app store, with momentum still building.
Appfigures, despite not being able to verify Bluesky’s claim of a half-million new users in a single day, has recorded an extraordinary increase in new installs. On Thursday alone, the firm noted 197,000 new downloads via the App Store, a jump from just 3,400 the previous day. A notable portion, 40%, came from the U.S., with Japan following closely at 27%. Downloads have skyrocketed by quadruple digits across approximately 90 countries.
Several factors seem to be contributing to this Bluesky phenomenon. A significant driver appears to be discontent among users of X (formerly Twitter) over a recent change to its block function. This change means that users with public accounts will have their posts viewable by anyone, including those they’ve blocked, which raises safety concerns for many. Furthermore, X has revised its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, granting the platform the right to share user data with third parties, including AI developers.
Additionally, Bluesky might be gaining from the moderation woes facing Threads, another social platform where users are encountering inexplicable bans and post downrankings. These disruptions on other platforms might be nudging users towards seeking refuge with Bluesky.
Despite these changes, X has managed to add 17,000 new downloads between Tuesday and Thursday, though it has slipped to No. 29 in the U.S. App Store rankings, with a mild downward trend in alignment with an 8.4% decline in the news category year-to-date.
Previously, Bluesky saw significant increases in user numbers after opening up from its invite-only stage and during Brazil’s temporary ban of X, which spurred a migration of users seeking alternatives.
This current surge signifies a powerful moment for Bluesky, as it continues to escalate its appeal across global markets and draws ever closer to becoming a dominant force in the social networking landscape.
