Bluesky , a social network based on open source technologies and competing with X (formerly Twitter), is reportedly attracting more and more well-known users, most recently former US President Barack Obama .
The platform's CEO, Rose Wang, responded to a user who wondered if the account posting on the platform as Obama was legitimate. The response was that it is "Verified!"
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In his first posts on Bluesky, Barack Obama celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), calling it “a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.”
The former president has millions of followers on other social media, including X and Facebook. However, Elon Musk’s X has lost several users to alternative social networks, including Bluesky, following the 2024 U.S. election. Musk used X to support President Trump and promote political views aligned with MAGA.
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It's no surprise that many left-wing US users no longer want to participate in X. Their exit from the platform led to a surge in users for Bluesky in late 2024. Today, the social network has over 33 million users and continues to grow.
In addition to Barack Obama, other US politicians use Bluesky: Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Al Green, Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who became the first person on Bluesky to reach one million followers. Many other representatives, senators and governors have also joined the network.
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The fact that Barack Obama has joined Bluesky is a big win for the platform, as it boosts its credibility and could attract more users. Bluesky is presented as a decentralized, more open and transparent alternative to X (Twitter), which seems to resonate with those looking for a social network with less toxicity and better content management.
Source: techcrunch.com
