Bluesky now has 30 million users

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

User numbers and comparison to X/Twitter

  • Bluesky reports ~30M total accounts; external charts in-thread suggest ~12M+ MAU.
  • X is cited at ~570M MAU (from Musk), but commenters question both platforms’ numbers due to bots, duplicate accounts, and lack of transparency.
  • Several argue raw MAU is less important than “cultural footprint,” where X is still seen as dominant for news and sports.

Centralization, AT Protocol, and self‑hosting

  • Debate over how decentralized Bluesky really is:
    • You can self-host a Personal Data Server (PDS), migrate your account, and use domain-based identity.
    • There are third‑party PDSes and some community relays/app views.
    • However, core “mega nodes”/firehoses and the main client are still run by Bluesky, so practical power is centralized today.
  • Some compare this unfavorably to ActivityPub/Mastodon (simpler, many independent servers) and to Nostr/email; others say AT Proto is relatively straightforward for developers.

Onboarding and Mastodon’s “missed chance”

  • Strong consensus that Mastodon squandered the 2022 Twitter exodus:
    • Confusing server choice, inconsistent signups, poor branding and marketing.
    • Even tech users report bouncing repeatedly at registration or feeling they chose the “wrong” instance.
  • Bluesky’s Twitter-like UX and default single-server signup are seen as decisive advantages, despite weaker decentralization.

Moderation, blocking, and filter bubbles

  • Bluesky’s granular moderation is widely praised:
    • User- and community-maintained block lists (e.g. for Nazis, bots, MAGA, crypto shills) are seen as a major draw.
    • Independent moderation services (e.g. screenshot labeling) can plug into the network.
  • Others argue strong blocking (preventing replies/mentions, not just muting) is de facto censorship and encourages sealed echo chambers.
  • Some predict decentralization would only be “real” if instances could disable or reinterpret blocks; others counter that user-level blocking is a core safety feature.

Content, politics, and culture

  • Experiences diverge sharply:
    • Some report timelines full of US politics, “we hate Twitter” posts, or niche porn/furry content in algorithmic feeds like “What’s Hot Classic,” even with neutral interests.
    • Others say they see none of this and enjoy a calm, pre‑2015‑Twitter-like environment.
  • Perceived political skew:
    • Multiple comments describe Bluesky as left‑leaning (sometimes “extreme-left”), X as increasingly far‑right, and both drifting into opposing echo chambers.
    • National anecdotes (e.g., French left moving en masse to Bluesky) reinforce this.
  • A few worry Bluesky may eventually censor controversial positions (e.g., on pharma/COVID) similar to other platforms; the thread provides no clear evidence either way.

Business model and long‑term outlook

  • Bluesky’s revenue plans are still emerging:
    • Ideas mentioned: paid custom handles, optional subscriptions (Discord‑style), creator monetization with platform commissions.
  • Some lament that any business-driven model will eventually degrade the user experience but acknowledge hosting and moderation must be funded.
  • Several believe Mastodon will remain as the durable, FLOSS alternative if/when VC‑backed platforms like X or Bluesky decline.