U.S. Vice President, JD Vance, announced his move to Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform, on Wednesday, June 18, urging his 1.8 million followers to join him. The decision, posted on X, reflects growing discontent with X’s moderation policies and ownership under Elon Musk, prompting high-profile figures to seek alternatives. Vance’s departure is a significant blow to X’s user base, fueling debates about the future of social media.
In his Bluesky post, Vance criticized X for “censoring conservative voices” and promoting “algorithmic bias,” claims Musk has denied. “Bluesky offers a free speech haven where ideas can thrive,” Vance wrote, sharing his handle @JDVanceOfficial. Bluesky, launched in 2023 by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has gained traction for its user-controlled feeds and open-source model. By Thursday, Vance’s account had garnered 500,000 followers, per TechCrunch.
The move follows similar exits by figures like Senator Ted Cruz and media personality Tucker Carlson, amid X’s struggles with advertiser pullbacks and regulatory scrutiny. On X, @TechBit reported a 20% spike in Bluesky sign-ups, while @FreeSpeechNow praised Vance’s stance. Critics, however, argue Bluesky risks becoming an echo chamber for right-wing users. The platform’s scalability and moderation policies will be tested as it absorbs X’s defectors, with analysts watching its impact on the 2026 midterms.
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