06.04.2025 15:43
After the concerning decisions regarding freedom of expression made by the popular microblogging site X (Twitter), millions have started to transition to the Bluesky platform, which was launched by one of its former founders, Jack Dorsey, in 2019. Among the notable names who have switched to Bluesky, which has already surpassed 35 million users, is the famous comedian Cem Yılmaz, who closed his X account today.
Recently, freedom of expression has become one of the most fundamental promises of social media platforms, but this promise has become a serious questioning issue for X users.
MILLIONS ARE LEAVING X
Following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the closure of many accounts supporting the protests has triggered concerns about "censorship," while millions of users worldwide have started flocking to the Bluesky platform, built by Twitter's co-founder Jack Dorsey in 2019, after similar decisions.
USER COUNT EXCEEDS 35 MILLION
Bluesky was initially a research project initiated by Jack Dorsey in 2019 and has gradually transformed into an independent platform. With the recent events bringing it back into the spotlight, the user count has rapidly increased, reaching 15 million in a short time from just 9 million in September 2023, and is expected to reach 35 million by April 5, 2025.
The intense interest from the USA and the UK has played a significant role in the platform's growth, and the return of Bluesky has become a harbinger of a "digital migration" both globally and locally.
WHAT MAKES BLUESKY SPECIAL?
Similar to X, Bluesky allows for post sharing and interaction, but it has a significant difference. Here, algorithms are under the user's control. You can create feeds that show only the people you follow or only content related to cats. Additionally, with a system called "anti-toxicity," unwanted interactions can be prevented; it is even possible to separate users who quote a post.
CEM YILMAZ CLOSED HIS X ACCOUNT WITH 16 MILLION FOLLOWERS
One of the prominent figures positioning the Bluesky platform as an alternative for Turkey is the famous comedian Cem Yılmaz. He officially transitioned to Bluesky today by closing his X account, which had 16 million 300 thousand followers, as he did not make a statement regarding the process that started on March 19, becoming the focus of reactions.