Archive — US — techcrunch
Bluesky’s active user base is shrinking as its focus expands beyond the app
Bluesky, a decentralized social network, has seen a 27.2% drop in monthly active users since last year, falling to 10.4 million. Despite adding users, app engagement has declined significantly over time. The company's focus has shifted from just the app to expanding its protocol for broader applications. Competitors like Threads are gaining traction, raising concerns about Bluesky’s future in the social networking landscape.
Key points
- 1. Bluesky's monthly active users dropped 27.2% to 10.4 million in June 2026.
- 2. Daily active users declined 25.6% year-over-year, signaling reduced engagement.
- 3. Bluesky has lost over 52% of its monthly active users since late 2024.
- 4. CEO Toni Schneider is shifting focus from app success to enhancing the AT Proto protocol for various social applications.
- 5. New products like the AI tool Attie and private data support aim to attract different users.
- 6. While X's user base has also declined, Threads has experienced a 21.3% increase in daily active users.
Why it matters
- 1. The decline in Bluesky's user engagement reflects challenges faced by new social platforms in retaining users long-term.
- 2. The shift towards decentralized social networks correlates with growing privacy concerns among users.
- 3. The rise of Threads highlights the competitive landscape and the evolving dynamics of user preferences in social media beyond traditional platforms.
Bluesky's user decline raises questions about its sustainability as it pivots towards broader applications, while the competitive threat from Threads and user dissatisfaction with existing platforms shapes the future of decentralized social networking.