Bluesky’s recent surge in popularity, with 2 million new users just last week, certainly raises eyebrows. The catalyst behind this spike could be tied to recent turmoil involving X, which faced a significant setback in Brazil. Following a government ban, X is poised to lose around 40 million monthly active users in the country.
This situation stems from a conflict between X and the Brazilian government that began in April. The friction ignited when Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the removal of seven accounts accused of spreading misinformation in favor of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Despite being a staunch advocate for free speech, Elon Musk refused to comply with these takedown demands. This stance is even more remarkable given that Musk has previously adhered to similar requests from governments in India and Turkey.
Could the chaos for X translate to an opportunity for Bluesky? Given the recent user migration, it seems quite possible. The shifting landscape is certainly something to keep an eye on as the platform wars continue to evolve.
