Bluesky’s the limit! X competitor is adding a million users a day: 'Interact with REAL people, have fun!'
Bluesky COO Rose Wang on what makes the once invite-only Bluesky different to social media platforms like X and Threads.
Lester Kiewit speaks to Rose Wang, COO of Bluesky, about the platform’s explosive growth, which has seen it skyrocket to about 20 million users.
Listen below.
Created as an alternative to traditional social media platforms, San Francisco-based Bluesky has begun to reshape how social media operates.
Once backed by Twitter, it became an independent entity following Elon Musk's takeover of the platform now known as X.
So, how is Bluesky different from any other social media platforms?
Wang says it's a question she is asked all the time.
"... you get to interact with real people, make internet friends again and have fun conversations again."
- Rose Wang, COO - Bluesky
Why is that happening on Bluesky and not on other platforms?
"It's because we're used to being trapped in one algorithm that's controlled by a small group of people and with Bluesky that's no longer the case."
- Rose Wang, COO - Bluesky
The platform's users have built some 55 000 feeds on topics from cats to Taylor Swift and the possibilities are endless, says Wang.
It's about giving users a choice, she says.
"Here, we aren't deciding who to promote and who not to promote. There's always going to be bias if the decision is made by a small group of people."
- Rose Wang, COO - Bluesky
In 2023, the then invite-only app was reaching a modest 50,000 users. Today it boasts over 20 million, with almost a million new users joining every day.
Wang says the 'chatter' on Bluesky is greater, with 30% of users are posting on Bluesky are posting compared with 1% on X.
How does it manage hate speech and rudeness? "There are different levels of moderation levers that users can pull on Bluesky that are not on X - that creates an even more safe space to talk," she adds.
The platform will flag an imposter account and label it 'imposter'.
She says they have 'given a lot of moderation tools to users'. Users can label spam bots as 'spam' and help keep the community safe rather than just relying on the platform.
Wang insists Bluesky takes a "true free market" for social media. This gives users the freedom "to stay or leave and take your followers with you."
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.