The social networking platform Bluesky has experienced a tremendous surge in users, gaining over 2 million new accounts in just four days. This significant increase follows the recent shutdown of X in Brazil, where Bluesky’s user count ballooned from a mere half a million as of last Friday.
This rapid adoption brought with it occasional technical issues, as many newcomers encountered “Not Enough Resources” errors. Bluesky’s engineering team has been working diligently to manage the influx and ensure server stability amid this explosive growth.
As new users flocked to download the app, Bluesky soared to the number one spot among apps in Brazil, surpassing its competitors, including Meta’s X rival, Instagram Threads. According to app intelligence firm Appfigures, downloads for Bluesky skyrocketed by 10,584% this weekend compared to the previous week, with Brazilian downloads increasing a remarkable 1,018,952%. Notably, the buzz surrounding Bluesky also triggered an impressive 584% rise in downloads outside Brazil, marking its emergence in 22 new countries where traction had previously been minimal.
Among the countries experiencing the highest download numbers outside of Brazil were the U.S., Portugal, the U.K., Canada, and Spain. However, the countries that saw the most explosive growth included Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Romania, with some transitioning from single-digit growth to thousands.
Bluesky’s new users have quickly embraced the platform, leading to significant increases in engagement metrics. Over just the past four days, the platform recorded 104.6 million likes, a massive leap from 13 million a week prior. Follows surged from 1.4 million to 100.8 million, while reposts climbed from 1.3 million to 11 million.
By Monday, Bluesky reported that it had onboarded a total of 2.11 million users over the previous four-day period, a stark rise compared to the mere 26,000 users added during the comparable timeframe a week ago. Furthermore, Bluesky highlighted “significantly more than a 100% increase” in daily active users.
Many ex-X users are drawn to Bluesky because its interface closely resembles the now Elon Musk-owned social media platform. Originally incubated within Twitter, Bluesky operates as a separate entity that raised its own funding while maintaining much of Twitter’s aesthetic.
Bluesky not only replicates familiar features such as likes, reposts, lists, and direct messages, but also enhances upon them. As a decentralized social network, it allows users to establish their own instances (servers) that can connect over the AT Protocol, customize their feeds, subscribe to third-party moderation services, and even create curated “starter packs” linking to recommended users. Additionally, upcoming updates promise to include video support.
Bluesky’s distinct approach to content and moderation contrasts with Threads, which has taken a less politically charged stance. While X has historically been a platform for breaking news and civic discussion, Threads aims to cater to brands and social media influencers, steering away from political content.
Given the political context surrounding X’s ban in Brazil—where authorities desired more control over discourse—many Brazilian users may be seeking a decentralized platform like Bluesky, where content moderation is largely user-driven rather than overseen solely by the platform owners.
This flexibility, paired with Bluesky’s user-friendly experience, could make it a preferred option over others, even as Mastodon has offered its own decentralized services. Despite a recent influx of 4,200 signups from Brazil, according to Mastodon’s founder Eugen Rochko, Bluesky’s growth outshines the competition.
Although Meta has not yet disclosed any significant increases in Threads’ user base due to Brazilians migrating from X, such an increase would likely be negligible compared to Bluesky’s impressive gains. Brazilian users might also be looking for a distinct environment separate from their existing social networks—one that emphasizes public engagement, reminiscent of early Twitter’s atmosphere. Bluesky embodies this with its vibrant meme culture and humor.
The landscape in Brazil remains ripe for growth, as X reportedly had over 20 million users in the region, leaving ample opportunity for platforms such as Bluesky to capture the audience’s attention.