Home Half a million users flee X for Bluesky after block feature changes – here’s how to migrate

Half a million users flee X for Bluesky after block feature changes – here’s how to migrate

Around half a million people have ditched social media platform X for Bluesky after it recently announced plans to essentially eliminate blocking. The decentralized social media app that began as an in-house project for Twitter, has rapidly emerged as one of the most popular alternatives to Elon Musk’s X platform.

Recent policy changes at X, particularly concerning the “block” feature, have contributed to this shift. First announced in September, the changes to the block button have now been implemented. Under the new rules, users who are blocked can still view your public posts but cannot engage with them through replies, likes, or other interactions.

Although blocked users are restricted from direct interaction, they can still engage with your followers or commenters and even screenshot your posts to share them elsewhere. The shift in the blocking policy has prompted another wave of users to leave X, many of whom are migrating to Bluesky.

 

In one day alone, Bluesky saw a surge of half a million new users following these changes, adding to the two million who joined after Musk temporarily got X banned in Brazil, a decision that has since been reversed.

How to migrate to Bluesky from X

However, building a following from scratch on Bluesky can be challenging. To make this process easier, users have turned to the Sky Follower Bridge extension. This tool simplifies the task of migrating your follows and block list from X (formerly Twitter) to Bluesky, making it less tedious to reconnect with your old network.

The Sky Follower Bridge extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and GitHub. While it doesn’t make the process entirely seamless, it reduces the hassle of finding and reconnecting with people on Bluesky. After installing the extension, users can visit their X profile, navigate to the list of people they are following, and activate the extension from their browser’s toolbar. A popup will tell them to log into their Bluesky account.

Once logged in, the extension identifies followers who have matching Bluesky accounts by using three criteria: same handle name, same display name, or a handle name included in their description. Users can scroll through the generated list and select whom they want to follow on Bluesky with a simple click. While there isn’t a “select all” option, this method is still far easier than searching for people manually.

After processing the list of people you’re following, you can repeat the process for your followers, so that it is easier to transition on to Bluesky while keeping your social circles from X.

ReadWrite has reached out to Bluesky and X for comment.

Featured image: Canva

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech, gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, AI breakthroughs, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Suswati Basu
Tech journalist

Suswati Basu is a multilingual, award-winning editor and the founder of the intersectional literature channel, How To Be Books. She was shortlisted for the Guardian Mary Stott Prize and longlisted for the Guardian International Development Journalism Award. With 18 years of experience in the media industry, Suswati has held significant roles such as head of audience and deputy editor for NationalWorld news, digital editor for Channel 4 News and ITV News. She has also contributed to the Guardian and received training at the BBC As an audience, trends, and SEO specialist, she has participated in panel events alongside Google. Her…

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.