Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform considered an alternative to X, shows user trends mirroring those on bigger platforms, with a few users dominating interactions. Despite unique features and a left-leaning stance, its dynamics resemble those of major social media sites.
A study from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, published in PLOS One, found that even on a united platform, user divisions can arise. It analyzed Bluesky’s growth from launch in February 2023 to May 2024 with around 5.7 million users, examining network structure, polarization, and user political affiliations.
The researchers found that, while Bluesky has unique features, its network structure closely resembles that of bigger social media platforms. They observed that increases in new user registrations often followed news related to X.
Despite Bluesky’s left-leaning user base, especially in the sharing of links, signs of user polarization emerged. Posts on Israel-Palestine relations were neutral pre-October 7; post-attacks, they favored pro-Palestine views. This indicates potential user divisions in politically aligned networks.
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