Is Bluesky The Social Media We Actually Need?

The latest darling of the social media world isn’t X or Threads – it’s Bluesky… or is it?

Bluesky is the new Twitter-clone that Jack Dorsey, former Twitter CEO, quietly birthed as a decentralized, user-first alternative some time back.
Now, it’s riding a wave of disillusionment with X (formerly Twitter), boasting over 20 million users (thanks, Trump?!).
But before we all throw up our hands and proclaim it the next big thing, let’s think on this:

Is this what we’ve been waiting for?

Bluesky feels like Old Twitter, but it’s smarter – or at least that’s the pitch.
The app offers a chronological feed (no algorithms dictating what you see) and lets users choose moderation tools and algorithms that fit their vibe.
You can even join niche servers that cater to your specific interests.
So… Twitter 2.0… with customization knobs?

So are we solving problems, or just moving furniture around the same room?

It could be a post-US election exodus from X?
Since the election, over 115,000 users have deactivated their accounts, frustrated by Elon Musk’s tweaks to promote his own pro-Trump posts and the results.
Social media was supposed to connect us, but instead, it feels like we’re all running to our corners, shouting into echo chambers.
Does Bluesky solve that (does it want to)?… Or are we just splintering further, with each platform leaning into its own ideological tilt?

Here’s my argument: People crave connection, not fragmentation.

Bluesky needs to grow its user base fast – its 20 million users pale in comparison to X’s once – mighty 229 million daily active users.
And Threads, the Meta-backed alternative, still dominates with over 175 million monthly active users.

Bluesky also faces a trust issue.

It’s hard to be “the future of social media” when you’re run by the same guy who helped build the platform that many saw as a problem for democracy long before this last election cycle (or did we already forget about that?).
And while its decentralized model sounds great, how will it handle bad actors testing the boundaries of “choose-your-own” moderation?

We’ve been here before.

For all its flaws, Bluesky has a chance to rewrite the rules.
By emphasizing real-time news and chronological feeds, it offers what X used to: An immediate pulse on the world.
The question is whether it can scale without becoming the very thing it’s trying to replace.
Can it stay true to its promise of user control?
Will it remain a space for honest debate, or will it devolve into another ideological silo?

The big blue picture.

Bluesky might not be the perfect answer, but it’s asking the right questions.
What do we really want from social media?
Do we need more connection, or better curation?
And, perhaps most importantly:
Is this the start of something truly new, or just another iteration of the same old story?

Whether it becomes a beacon – or fizzles out – depends on whether we’re ready for real change… with real voices… from real people… with real opinions.

This is what Elias Makos and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.