What you need to know
In a recent announcement, Microsoft revealed its new presence on Bluesky, joining the ranks of Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter. The tech titan from Redmond emphasized that its decision aligns with its goals of fostering innovation and advancing inclusivity and empowerment. Windows Central, along with many of its team members, can also be found on Bluesky, eager to engage with this budding community.
Microsoft’s Chief Communication Officer, Frank X. Chaw, took to LinkedIn to share the news, stating, "We strive to be present where our customers, partners, and even competitors are, interacting with them in their preferred spaces." Microsoft sees Bluesky as more than just a social network; it regards it as a "connected digital ecosystem" that enhances user experience and fuels creativity.
The appeal of Bluesky’s decentralized approach resonates with Microsoft’s long-standing advocacy for user empowerment in their digital interactions. As Frank X. Chaw expressed, "On this platform, you’re not merely a bystander; you’re an active player shaping your digital world. We’re thrilled to contribute to this new era of social interaction."
The company also mentioned that Bluesky’s emphasis on inclusivity dovetails perfectly with its own values. As of now, the platform remains advertisement-free, focusing on leveraging funds from its investors. There’s talk of introducing a subscription service to support server costs, featuring options like high-quality video uploads and profile customizations. However, the specifics regarding whether businesses will have distinct subscription tiers from regular users are still up in the air.
X’s Sinking Ship
In recent months, X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) has faced a massive migration of users to alternatives like Bluesky, CounterSocial, Discord, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Reddit, and Threads. These shifts follow Elon Musk’s controversial overhaul of the company since his acquisition in October 2022.
After taking over as CEO, Musk integrated the company into X Corp, slashing its previous leadership, including CEO Parag Agrawal. This ushered in sweeping changes, with many features being rebranded and removing bird-related lingo.
User dissatisfaction has mounted amid a perceived decline in user experience on X, flooded by toxic content and controversial changes, such as the platform’s data policy that allows using user info for AI training.
Celebrity exits have further fueled the exodus, with influencers prompting their followers to explore alternative platforms akin to X’s experience. Meta’s Threads, for instance, skyrocketed to over 100 million users soon after its debut, coinciding with X’s decision to impose a daily tweet cap of only 600 per user.
Whether these developments signal a long-term shift in user preferences or just a temporary trend remains to be seen, but they certainly highlight the growing market for innovative and user-friendly platforms like Bluesky.
