UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has clearly said he has “no plans” to join the fast-expanding social media network with Bluesky’s appeal skyrocketing. Starmer said there are no plans to establish an official UK government account on the platform or utilise it for personal purposes, despite Bluesky’s ascent as a reasonable substitute for Elon Musk’s X (previously Twitter).
Why is Bluesky Gaining Popularity?
Bluesky has been the most downloaded app on US and UK Apple Stores in recent weeks thanks to a surge of interest. Particularly following the US election, many social media users have switched to Bluesky after voicing discontent with X.
“At the moment, there are no plans to establish official UK government accounts or a personal one in my name,” Starmer said in response to a query on his platform joining attitude.
Bluesky’s growth is driven by the promise of a distributed, user-centric environment, which contrasts sharply with platforms like X, which many critics contend have been progressively altered by governmental influences.
Which Politicians Are Joining Bluesky?
Starmer is still reluctant to join, while several well-known politicians have set up Bluesky accounts. Among the early adopters are former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Treasury Minister Darren Jones, suggesting that the platform is gathering appeal among UK politicians.
For now, Starmer is still dedicated to utilising more established platforms like X. Emphasising the need for communication, he stated, “A government needs to be able to communicate with as many people as possible,” adding, “We’re still using Twitter (X),” speaking at the G20 conference in Brazil.
What Makes Bluesky Different from Other Social Media Platforms?
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey started Bluesky in 2019; he helped finance the initiative but is not personally involved. Being distributed distinguishes the platform from most others; it runs on independent servers instead of under central management. Aiming to create a venue where individuals may communicate over common interests free from corporate or political intervention observed in other social networks, Bluesky characterises itself as “social media as it should be”.
Bluesky declared it exceeded 19 million users earlier this week, indicating the platform’s user base has exploded recently. Though the company has not revealed the exact numbers, this fast expansion points to a change away from conventional platforms like X, which still rules with hundreds of millions of active users.
Why Are Users Moving to Bluesky from X?
Many recent Bluesky customers have mentioned X’s X leadership of Elon Musk as a primary inspiration for their platform switch. Musk’s engagement with X, especially his strong support of Donald Trump’s election campaign, has caused some to wonder about the impact one person may have on social media political debate. These issues were underlined lately when The Guardian said it would no longer publish on X, stressing the platform’s influence on political discourse.
Bluesky’s distributed approach, on the other hand, attracts consumers who are fed off the centralised management of social media behemoths like X and Facebook is unsatisfactory. The platform’s promise of a more democratic, less politicised environment has attracted many looking for alternatives to the current quo to hide.
What Does the Future Hold for Bluesky and UK Politics?
Bluesky is still becoming increasingly popular, but Starmer’s refusal to join draws attention to a more extensive UK political resistance to wholly embracing the new platform. It remains to be seen how long Bluesky’s platform will remain outside the mainstream political debate in the UK as its user base grows and it draws a politically varied audience.
Starmer’s choice to stay with X for now shows his conviction in reaching the largest audience. “We are still using Twitter (X),” he stated, underlining that, in the present Day, X is still a vital instrument for political communication, notwithstanding its difficulties. But if Bluesky grows and draws users from all political backgrounds, it could not be long before UK politicians—including Starmer—have a change of perspective.
