Today marks a pivotal moment in my journey through social media: I've officially reached my highest follower count ever on Bluesky, with 206,700 followers as of this morning. While these numbers may not rival the likes of Taylor Swift or John Cena, for a science fiction enthusiast and writer like myself, it’s a remarkable achievement.

For those wondering where I stood before this, my previous record was on Twitter, where I had amassed around 206,400 followers by April 2022. Unfortunately, this number began to dwindle following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, a trend which continued until I decided to leave last month with my follower count lingering around 180,000. It seems many users, disillusioned by the site’s changes, are leaving in droves.

Bluesky has become a popular haven for those departing from Twitter post-election, experiencing a growth surge that has brought its user base close to 24 million. While that’s just a fraction compared to the established giants like Twitter and Threads, what makes Bluesky stand out is its vibrant community. It’s home to a creative "middle class," including writers, journalists, scientists, and artists, who invigorate the platform with rich discussions and engagement.

What's compelling about Bluesky is the lack of algorithmic interference in my feeds. Unlike many other social media platforms, users can view posts directly from the accounts they follow without unnecessary algorithms distorting their experience. This leads to increased engagement and interaction, significantly more vibrant than I experienced previously on Twitter or currently on Threads.

In less than 20 months on Bluesky, I’ve achieved this milestone follower count, with nearly half of my followers joining in just the past 30 days due to Twitter’s exodus. While it’s likely that some of these may be bots (similar to other platforms), I suspect the number of genuine users engaging with my content on Bluesky surpasses the authentic interactions I had while active on Twitter.

This follower growth has come without the penalties I anticipated after leaving Twitter. In fact, the improvement in engagement has been noticeable; my posts are receiving more interaction thanks to the lack of algorithmic filtering. Moreover, I haven’t seen a substantial difference in terms of financial opportunities over the past year, but I note that I don’t rely on social media for marketing exclusively. Despite this, I’m optimistic about the engagement levels, highlighting the platform's potential for new writers, journalists, and creatives alike.

Of course, this isn’t to say that Bluesky is without its flaws. As new users join, the platform has seen an influx of bots and trolls, which can often detract from the user experience. Thankfully, Bluesky offers robust moderation tools that allow users to quickly block unwanted interactions. Still, the remnants of negative behaviors from Twitter are beginning to surface, requiring some users to adapt to a healthier online ethos of simply blocking instead of engaging in conflict.

Bluesky is experiencing its fair share of growing pains, a normal part of its expansion. While I remain enthusiastic about the platform, it's vital to acknowledge that it’s not perfect. Its major strength currently lies in its moderation tools and a community atmosphere that, while not flawless, is certainly more pleasant than many alternatives.

If you’re already following me on Bluesky, thank you! I aim to provide engaging content worth your while. If you’re contemplating joining the platform, now is a great time to dive in. And for those still clinging to Twitter, I respect your choice, but I have realized that my reasons for staying on that platform were ultimately unfounded. I’m genuinely relieved to have found a refreshing alternative in Bluesky, and I look forward to what lies ahead in this new social media chapter.

— A delighted social media explorer