Left-leaning influencers juggle Bluesky and X accounts

A growing number of left-leaning influencers are now active on Bluesky while keeping a steady foothold on X, according to a new Pew Research Center report summarized at Storyy. This migration spotlights evolving strategies among creators and signals potential shifts in where social influence gathers heading into 2025.

Pew’s review assessed 500 high-follower accounts regularly posting about current affairs. By March 2025, 43% had launched Bluesky profiles—a number that surged following the 2024 U.S. presidential race. Notably, 69% of liberal or Democratic-aligned figures appeared on Bluesky, compared to only 15% of those on the conservative end.

The drive toward Bluesky accelerated as Elon Musk’s leadership at X came into sharper focus. Many cited discontent with Musk’s close political ties as a catalyst for seeking new platforms, but most aren’t quitting X entirely. As of spring 2025, 82% of surveyed influencers still keep their X accounts active, showing only a minor dip from late 2024 levels. Most Bluesky newcomers also continue to post on X, demonstrating preference for diversification rather than outright departure.

Despite a boom in account creation, X remains the dominant channel for daily posts. Although more influencers are posting to Bluesky—activity rose from 54% to 66% between January and March—most still publish more often on X, even as news influencer engagement there slipped from 92% to 87% over the same period. This pattern amounts to a measured, "soft protest," where creators sample alternatives without sacrificing established reach.

For context, X still dwarfs Bluesky in audience size. X reportedly boasts 600 million monthly actives, while Bluesky recently hit 36 million. Other rivals are also on the rise, with Meta’s Threads jumping to 350 million users. Bluesky saw a post-election spike of 1.5 million daily posters, though activity has since tapered by one-third. When industry giants launch new features—like those described in this rundown of this week’s social media updates—they’re responding to this competitive churn among platforms.

Creators have been through similar platform migrations before. Past alternatives, such as Mastodon, attracted waves of interest yet rarely ignited a true exodus. The majority of users opt for the larger networks due to easier engagement and wider reach, even when newer services promise more open, decentralized models.

For brands, marketers, and creators, the takeaway is clear: building audiences across more than one network is now strategic, not optional. Diversification safeguards against sudden algorithm changes, policy shifts, or platform volatility. Concentrating influence on just one channel leaves creators exposed if their audience suddenly disperses.

The wider scramble for top creators and viral personalities continues to shake up the industry. Bluesky’s growth, though notable, mainly appeals to those highly invested in free-speech debates or open web protocols. However, neither creators nor audiences have mass-migrated from X, keeping the main pool of attention anchored there for now.

Encouragingly for Bluesky, influencer adoption is on the upswing. The big question will be whether these users move their primary posting—and thus, main fan engagement—to Bluesky, or if the platform remains a secondary outpost.

Meanwhile, keeping a close eye on how these migrations play out can help digital strategists and social managers spot fresh opportunities. As platforms roll out new features, as seen in Instagram’s latest engagement tools, these trend lines will continue to shape where and how creators build lasting communities.