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On Tuesday, Bluesky, the long-anticipated open-source alternative to Elon Musk’s X, has finally emerged from its beta phase, welcoming users from all walks of the digital realm.

With just over three million users after almost a year, Bluesky presents itself as a viable option to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Meta-owned Threads.

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Bluesky user base

Bluesky's emergence coincides with a pivotal moment in the microblogging sphere. It hopes to carve out a niche in the face of some formidable competitors. 

Elon Musk's acquisition of X in late 2022 marked a significant shift in the social media landscape. Mastodon emerged as a prominent contender boasting 8.7 million users, while Instagram's Threads commands a user base of 130 million.

But all the competition doesn’t compare to X’s estimated 368 million monthly users.

Bluesky spawned by X

Originally conceived as an internal project within Jack Dorsey's Twitter. . The goal was to develop a decentralized social network protocol, which is now known as the AT Protocol1. 

 Bluesky severed ties with its parent company, now known as X, following Elon Musk's acquisition. 

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, is still associated with Bluesky, but he does not own it outright. He does sit on the Board.

CEO Jay Graber emphasizes Bluesky's commitment to openness and decentralization, highlighting the platform's potential to enrich public discourse.

Functionally akin to X and Threads, Bluesky introduces its own terminology with posts dubbed as 'skeets.' Users can navigate a chronological timeline while also exploring algorithmic feeds curated by fellow users, including intriguing options like the feed for quiet friends—those who post less frequently.

Launch setbacks

Though smaller than its federated counterpart, Mastodon, Bluesky harbors ambitions fueled by Mastodon's example of rapid growth. Despite challenges in setting up and navigating Mastodon. Some users found it difficult to set up and navigate compared to X’s relatively straightforward system.

Bluesky's launch encountered technical setbacks, with several user-generated algorithmic feeds experiencing disruptions. 

CEO Jay Graber confirmed the issues, attributing them to increased activity. Nonetheless, the platform seems to be operating more smoothly now.