In a recent discussion on the Southern Fried Science blog, author David Shiffman characterized early Twitter as “the world’s most interesting cocktail party.” His reflections came amid concerns that the platform’s professional utility had significantly declined.
“Then it stopped being useful,” Shiffman explained in an interview with Ars Technica. “I feared that this incredibly powerful method of leveraging expertise to effect change was lost. However, it hasn’t disappeared; it has merely shifted. While it’s now different and perhaps less impactful, it’s still present. I found immense reassurance in knowing that many others shared my sentiments. Documenting this scientifically was essential.”
To collect empirical data on the observed migration of users, Shiffman collaborated with social scientist Julia Wester, who had ventured onto Twitter at his encouragement years earlier but ultimately grew disillusioned and migrated to Bluesky. Despite being “much less online” than Shiffman, Wester was intrigued by the study’s objectives. “I was fascinated not only by the anecdotal conversations we were having but also by uncovering real patterns,” she noted in her conversation with Ars Technica. “As a social scientist, I seek to quantify anecdotal evidence regarding people’s experiences across a broader demographic.”
The research focused on scientists, science communicators, and educators who had experience with both platforms. Participants were queried about their attitudes toward each platform and their professional usage, including details on when they joined, their follower counts, the primary functions each platform served, and how those functions have changed since 2021. They were also asked how they first learned about Bluesky.
Both researchers recognized that their inquiry targets a narrow demographic within the wider social media landscape, acknowledging an unavoidable self-selection bias. However, Wester stressed the importance of utilizing a relevant sample and methodology for their study. “Our goal wasn’t merely to understand individual experiences with these platforms, but to investigate the broader migration phenomenon. We wanted to know why users are choosing to stay with or migrate to different platforms, and how they navigate their choices. For that purpose, we believe we gathered a substantial sample to explore the dynamics of this migration.”
