Pew Research: Left-Leaning Influencers Flock to Bluesky While Maintaining Presence on X

The landscape of social media is in constant flux, particularly for those who leverage these platforms to disseminate news and shape public discourse. News influencers – individuals with large online followings who regularly post about current events – are often at the forefront of these shifts, seeking platforms that align with their values, offer reach, or provide a more conducive environment for engagement. A recent analysis from the Pew Research Center sheds light on one such significant trend: the increasing adoption of the decentralized social network Bluesky by left-leaning news influencers, even as they largely continue to operate on X (formerly Twitter).

This analysis serves as a crucial update to Pew's broader November 2024 report on America's news influencers, which provided a snapshot of this group's presence across major platforms but did not include Bluesky in its initial scope. By revisiting the same cohort of influencers – defined as accounts with over 100,000 followers on at least one major platform and a history of regular posting on current events – the new data offers a focused look at Bluesky's penetration within this influential group.

The Growing Presence of Influencers on Bluesky

Pew's updated analysis, focusing on data collected in February and March, found that a substantial minority of the tracked news influencers had established a presence on Bluesky. Specifically, 43% of the 500 influencers studied were found to have a Bluesky account. This figure is notable, indicating that Bluesky, despite being a relatively newer platform compared to giants like X or Facebook, has achieved significant traction among a key demographic of online communicators.

The timing of account creation also provides insight into the drivers behind this migration. Over half (51%) of the Bluesky accounts held by these influencers were created after the 2024 presidential election. This timing suggests that the political climate and potentially shifts on other platforms following the election may have played a role in prompting influencers to explore or join alternative networks like Bluesky.

A Clear Political Divide in Platform Adoption

Perhaps the most striking finding of the Pew analysis is the significant disparity in Bluesky adoption rates based on the political leaning of the influencers. The study categorized influencers based on their explicit self-identification (liberal or Democrat) or expressed support for specific political figures (Kamala Harris or Joe Biden) prior to the 2024 election.

• Among left-leaning influencers, a considerable 69% had made the jump to Bluesky.
• In stark contrast, only 15% of conservative influencers (those identifying as conservative or Republican, or expressing support for Donald Trump) had done the same.

This nearly five-fold difference highlights a clear pattern: Bluesky is proving to be a far more attractive or necessary platform for those on the left side of the political spectrum within the news influencer space. This divergence could be attributed to various factors, including differing platform moderation policies, perceived biases, community norms, or the platforms' alignment with the political views of their ownership or dominant user base.

Exploring the Reasons Behind the Political Split

While the Pew study quantifies the trend, it prompts deeper questions about the underlying causes. Why are left-leaning influencers disproportionately moving to Bluesky? Several potential factors could be at play:

• Dissatisfaction with X: Since its acquisition by Elon Musk and subsequent rebranding from Twitter, X has undergone significant changes in policy, moderation, and culture. Many users, particularly those on the left, have expressed concerns about rising levels of hate speech, changes to content moderation, and the platform's perceived shift towards favoring conservative viewpoints. This dissatisfaction could be a primary driver for seeking alternative platforms.
• Search for Alternative Communities: As users become disillusioned with established platforms, they actively seek out new digital spaces that better align with their expectations for discourse, community, and safety. Bluesky, with its decentralized architecture and different governance model, may appeal to those looking for a fresh start or a different kind of online interaction.
• Network Effects and Early Adopters: The early adoption of Bluesky by a critical mass of prominent left-leaning figures can create a network effect, making the platform more attractive to others within that same political sphere. Influencers often follow their peers and audiences to new platforms to maintain their reach and relevance.
• Platform Design and Features: While less emphasized in the Pew data, the technical design and features of Bluesky, such as its use of the AT Protocol, custom feeds, and different moderation tools, might also appeal to specific users or communities seeking more control or a different user experience compared to X.

Conversely, conservative influencers may feel more comfortable or empowered on X under its current ownership, perceiving it as a platform where their views are less likely to be suppressed or where they can reach a receptive audience. This could explain their lower propensity to migrate to platforms like Bluesky.

The Enduring Pull of X: Not an Abandonment

Despite the significant move to Bluesky among left-leaning influencers, the Pew analysis makes it clear that this is largely an expansion of their online presence, not a wholesale abandonment of X. The study found that 82% of the tracked influencers still maintained an account on X in February/March 2025, a figure only slightly down from 85% in summer 2025.

Furthermore, the data indicates that most influencers continue to prioritize X for their regular posting activity. While the number of influencers actively posting on Bluesky did see an increase – growing from 54% in the first week of January to 66% in the last full week of March – this still lags behind the consistent activity levels likely maintained on X by the majority of the cohort.

This finding underscores the powerful network effects and established audiences that platforms like X possess. For influencers whose reach and impact are tied to their follower count and engagement, leaving a platform with millions of potential viewers is a difficult decision, even if they are dissatisfied with its direction. X remains a central hub for news dissemination and public debate, making it a necessary, albeit potentially frustrating, presence for many who seek to influence public opinion.

Reasons for Maintaining a Presence on X

Several factors likely contribute to influencers' decision to remain active on X:

• Audience Size and Reach: X still boasts a massive user base. Influencers who have spent years building large followings on the platform cannot easily replicate that reach elsewhere overnight. Maintaining an X account allows them to continue engaging with their established audience.
• News Cycle Centrality: X often serves as a real-time feed for breaking news and immediate reactions. Many journalists and commentators rely on it to monitor events, gather information, and participate in timely discussions. For news influencers, being off X can mean being out of the loop.
• Cross-Promotion: Influencers can use their X presence to promote their content on other platforms, including Bluesky, their websites, podcasts, or other ventures. X acts as a discovery engine and traffic driver.
• Professional Necessity: For many journalists and commentators, X is integrated into their professional workflow and is expected by their employers or audiences. It's a tool for networking, sourcing stories, and building their personal brand within the industry.
• Monitoring the Opposition: Staying on X allows influencers to monitor the discourse and arguments of those with opposing viewpoints, which can be crucial for their own commentary and analysis.

The data suggests a strategy of platform diversification rather than outright replacement. Influencers are adding Bluesky to their social media portfolio, particularly if they are left-leaning, but are not yet ready or able to abandon the reach and centrality that X still offers.

Bluesky's Growth Trajectory and Future Potential

The Pew findings, showing increased adoption and activity among a key group of influencers, are positive indicators for Bluesky's growth. Attracting and retaining influential users is vital for any emerging social network seeking to build a vibrant community and challenge established players. The fact that a growing percentage of influencers on Bluesky are actively posting suggests that they are finding value in the platform, whether it's a more positive environment, different engagement dynamics, or the ability to connect with a specific subset of their audience.

Bluesky's decentralized nature, built on the AT Protocol, offers a different vision for social networking compared to centralized platforms like X, Facebook, or Instagram. This architecture promises greater user control, interoperability, and resistance to single-point failures or censorship. For influencers concerned about the direction of centralized platforms, this model could be particularly appealing in the long term.

However, Bluesky still faces significant challenges. Its user base, while growing, is still orders of magnitude smaller than X's. Achieving the same level of broad public discourse and reach will require continued growth and the successful onboarding of a wider variety of users beyond specific niches or political leanings. The platform's success will depend on its ability to scale, refine its features, and effectively manage issues like moderation and content discovery within a decentralized framework.

The Broader Context: Platform Shifts and Political Discourse

The trend identified by Pew is part of a larger phenomenon of platform fragmentation and political sorting online. As social media platforms evolve, driven by changes in ownership, policy, or technology, users and influencers often seek out new digital homes that better suit their needs or political perspectives. This can lead to the formation of echo chambers or filter bubbles, where individuals are primarily exposed to information and viewpoints that reinforce their existing beliefs.

The disproportionate move of left-leaning influencers to Bluesky, while conservative influencers largely remain on X, could exacerbate this trend. If different political groups congregate on separate platforms, it could further reduce opportunities for cross-ideological engagement and understanding, potentially deepening societal divisions.

Understanding these platform dynamics is crucial for comprehending the modern media landscape and the flow of information. Influencers, by virtue of their large followings, play a significant role in directing attention and shaping narratives. Their choices about where to spend their time and energy online can have a ripple effect, influencing their followers' platform choices and contributing to the overall health and diversity of online public squares.

The Pew study provides valuable quantitative data on this specific migration pattern, confirming anecdotal observations about the appeal of Bluesky to certain segments of the online population, particularly those who have grown wary of X. It highlights that while alternative platforms are gaining ground, the dominance of established networks like X is not easily overcome, especially for users whose livelihoods and influence are tied to their online presence.

Looking Ahead

The findings from the Pew Research Center suggest that the social media landscape for news and political discourse is becoming more complex. Influencers are increasingly navigating multiple platforms, tailoring their strategies to each network's unique audience and culture. Bluesky appears to be successfully attracting a specific demographic of influential users, particularly those on the left, offering a potential alternative to X.

However, X retains its position as a major hub, and most influencers are not yet ready to abandon the reach it provides. The future will likely see continued experimentation with alternative platforms, driven by user dissatisfaction with existing networks and the appeal of new models like decentralization. The degree to which platforms like Bluesky can continue to grow, attract a diverse user base, and offer a compelling alternative will shape the future of online political communication and the role of influencers within it.

Researchers and the public alike will need to continue monitoring these trends to understand how information flows, how influence is wielded, and how digital spaces are shaping political discourse in an increasingly fragmented online world. The Pew Research Center's ongoing work in this area provides an essential data-driven perspective on these critical developments.

The migration patterns of news influencers are not just technical shifts; they reflect deeper currents of political alignment, platform governance preferences, and the ongoing search for effective ways to communicate and build community in the digital age. As platforms rise and evolve, so too does the strategy of those who use them to inform, persuade, and mobilize.

The data presented by Pew underscores that while dissatisfaction with a dominant platform can drive users to seek alternatives, the inertia of established networks and the value of existing audiences mean that shifts are often gradual and involve diversification rather than immediate, complete migration. Bluesky's success in attracting left-leaning influencers is a notable development, but the continued presence and activity of these same influencers on X highlight the complex, multi-platform reality of online influence today.

This dynamic interplay between established giants and emerging alternatives will continue to define the social media landscape, influencing not only where influencers post but also how information is consumed and how political conversations unfold online. The coming months and years will reveal whether platforms like Bluesky can convert their early traction with specific groups into broader, sustained growth that truly challenges the dominance of the current social media giants.