In 2024, Bluesky experienced an impressive spike in its user base, quickly becoming a popular choice for those departing from X (formerly known as Twitter). This year alone, a whopping 22.9 million people registered on Bluesky, with an astounding 13 million joining in just the past month and a half.
This data is highlighted in Bluesky’s "2024 in Review" blog post, which was shared just before the year wrapped up. The post celebrated various achievements, including the shift from being a purely invite-only platform to one that welcomes everyone. "When we first started, Bluesky had a burgeoning community of 3 million users. Just a week later, we welcomed over a million new members," Bluesky announced.
In another significant development this year, Bluesky successfully implemented federation, paving the way for a network of interconnected social communities. This advancement allows individuals to manage their personal data servers, freeing them from dependence on Bluesky’s main servers.
A year ago, Bluesky offered a minimalistic experience. Fast forward to now, and the platform has introduced essential features such as hashtags, direct messaging, video sharing, and trending topics. These tools are standard on other major social networks, making their introduction critical in positioning Bluesky as a solid competitor to platforms like X.
A unique addition in 2024 was the rollout of "starter packs." This intriguing feature lets users curate lists of accounts to follow. For instance, Windows Central created a pack featuring all its staff members active on the platform.
Against the backdrop of users moving away from X, Instagram, and Facebook in search of a less toxic environment, Bluesky attracted millions. Notably, there are a couple of third-party Bluesky applications available for Windows 11 (Beeskie and DarkSky), and a site named deck.blue mimics the TweetDeck interface.
Here’s a rundown of the key features Bluesky introduced in 2024:
Bluesky 2024 Updates: Major Enhancements
- Hashtags: We introduced hashtags for easier content discovery.
- Direct Messages: In May, DMs were added, offering a new way to connect.
- Starter packs: Launched in June, these help communities easily transition to Bluesky.
- Video Sharing: Video capabilities went live in September.
- Trending topics: Just before Christmas in December, trending topics were rolled out.
Bluesky 2024 Updates: Minor Tweaks
- Account deactivation (June),
- Priority notifications (July),
- Self-moderation tools including detach quotes and hide replies (August),
- Pinned posts (October), and
- The thread composer (November).
Bluesky continues to grow as a formidable alternative, drawing users who crave a diverse and dynamic social media experience.
