SEATTLE, WA — Social media app ‘Bluesky Social’ has officially surpassed 19 million total users, according to live metrics by Stats for Bluesky by Jaz. The app reached 19 million users only 30 hours after surpassing 18 million users.
The app’s unprecedented growth has propelled it to the top of the App Store “Top Free Apps” chart, surpassing established platforms such as Threads, Instagram, and even X, formerly known as Twitter, which currently ranks 37th.
The app’s recent surge in growth has been driven by waves of users, including high-profile celebrities, publicly announcing their departure from X.
On Thursday, bestselling author Stephen King announced to his 7 million followers that he will be leaving X, stating “I’m leaving Twitter. Tried to stay, but the atmosphere has just become too toxic. Follow me on Threads, if you like.”
King’s exit was followed by actress Gabrielle Union, who announced that she will be stepping away from X due to TOS changes, “with the recent and upcoming changes to the terms of service and the return of volatile figures- I find myself at a crossroads. facing a direction I can no longer fully support.”
Other prominent figures who announced their departure from X include journalist Don Lemon, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, and The Guardian newspaper.
Bluesky was first announced in 2019 by then Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, as a project to explore ways to decentralize social media.
“We’d expect this team not only to develop a decentralized standard for social media, but to also build open community around it, inclusive of companies & organizations, researchers, civil society leaders, all who are thinking deeply about the consequences, positive and negative,” Dorsey posted.
In February 2022, Bluesky announced the formation of the Bluesky Public Benefit LLC, and stated that their focus is on “building and releasing a prototype that illustrates our approach.”
Bluesky Social reached 4 million users in February 2024, after the app became open to the general public without the need for an invite code.
Bluesky is now one of the top free apps on App Store, describing itself as “THE NEW SOCIAL NETWORK for people who stay online and up-to-date. News, jokes, gaming, art, hobbies, and whatever you’re into is happening here.”
Bluesky is rapidly closing in on the 20 million user milestone as the app continues to attract hundreds of thousands of new users every day.
