Bluesky Adds Drafts, Updated Welcome Screen

02/10/26
Source: Social Media Today – Latest News by Andrew Hutchinson. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Bluesky’s Platform Updates and Growth in the Social Media Landscape

Bluesky has introduced new features like drafts and updated its welcome screen to enhance user experience and align with common social media behaviors. Despite an initial surge in users post-2024 US election, its growth has slowed significantly compared to competitors like Threads, which boasts a much larger user base. Bluesky maintains a loyal, engaged niche audience, making it potentially valuable for brands targeting specific communities, though it remains less mainstream and commercially focused than other platforms.

Optimixed’s Overview: Evaluating Bluesky’s Position as a Niche Social Media Platform in 2024

Recent Updates and User Experience Enhancements

Bluesky has rolled out key updates including the introduction of drafts, enabling users to save posts and return later, aligning with standard social media functionalities to improve posting flexibility. Additionally, the platform refreshed its welcome screen with new light and dark mode artwork and is working on features such as alternative feed options, improved following suggestions, and simplified content discovery to better engage its user base.

Growth Trends and Market Position

  • After the 2024 US presidential election, Bluesky’s user base jumped from 5 million to 20 million within three months, driven by dissatisfaction with Twitter’s changes.
  • Growth subsequently slowed: 10 million new users added over the next three months, then another 10 million over seven months, reaching 40 million total by November 2024.
  • Despite spikes in activity, such as a 70% increase during the Super Bowl, Bluesky’s post engagement and growth rate lag behind competitors, notably Threads.
  • Threads, leveraging Instagram’s network effects, now has approximately 400 million users, dwarfing Bluesky’s audience and establishing itself as the primary Twitter alternative.

Implications for Brands and Marketers

While Bluesky remains a niche platform, its highly engaged and loyal user segments offer unique opportunities for brands targeting specific demographics or communities. However, commercialization is less embraced on Bluesky, requiring brands to carefully understand platform culture before investing resources. For most marketers, Bluesky is not a mainstream marketing channel but could be valuable depending on your sector and outreach goals.

In summary, Bluesky’s evolution reflects its role as a specialized social media option rather than a broad mainstream alternative to Twitter or Threads. Brands should weigh the platform’s niche engagement against growth and commercial openness when considering its inclusion in marketing strategies.