Don Lemon and the Guardian left Elon Musk's X after the election. But is it a mass exodus? Don't be so sure

Bluesky has surged to the top of the Apple App Store’s US chart, attracting users leaving X, formerly known as Twitter, following Elon Musk's controversial involvement in the US presidential election. Bluesky's user base doubled recently, adding 1 million new sign-ups in a week, totaling over 15 million users. Meanwhile, X's environment has shifted under Musk, who boosted Donald Trump, reinstated banned accounts, and changed its verification system, which led to a decline in its advertising business.

Prominent journalists including Charlie Warzel, Mara Gay, and Don Lemon have left X for Bluesky. The Guardian also announced it would stop posting on X, citing it as a "toxic media platform." Despite speculations about Bluesky's rise, X's user numbers remain undisclosed, though estimates suggest disruption since Musk's takeover.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino stated that the platform's usage is at an all-time high, offering a diverse space for global conversation. Although 115,000 US users deactivated their accounts after the election, X experienced its highest web traffic that day. Bluesky also saw daily visits increase, indicating rising interest.

While X’s audience appears stable, Bluesky continues to grow, although it remains smaller than competitors. Social media reports suggest users find more engagement on Bluesky, though X maintains its user base due to its reach and content virality. Despite the user exodus, Musk's focus on creating a right-leaning platform seems undeterred, with his new political role and connections potentially enhancing his business interests.