Since Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter in October, many users unhappy with the platform’s new direction have expressed intentions to transition to other online spaces. However, the shift has proven more challenging than expected.
Several competing platforms are emerging as potential alternatives to Twitter for media professionals, public figures, and celebrities.
- Bluesky, Dorsey’s Twitter alternative –
Bluesky, developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is gaining attention in Silicon Valley, with many eager to gain access to the app that is currently in its testing phase.
The design and interface of Bluesky resemble Twitter, intended to provide a familiar environment for users migrating from Musk’s platform, although posts are designated as “skeets” rather than tweets.
Originally conceived as a side project in 2019, Bluesky aims to create a decentralized version of Twitter that offers users greater control over their personal data and content moderation.
- Mastodon, the decentralized option –
Mastodon, although relatively unknown to the general public, experienced significant growth following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, despite still trailing behind Twitter’s approximately 200 million monthly active users.
Wired magazine reported that Mastodon’s active monthly users fell from 2.5 million in late November and December to 1.4 million by late January, shortly after Musk’s takeover. This decline followed Musk’s temporary suspension of users who shared their Mastodon handles, a decision he later rescinded.
Launched in 2016 by German developer Eugen Rochko, Mastodon is an ad-free social network that prioritizes user privacy. Users post small messages, but each must register on an independently operated server, leading to thousands of variations across the platform. Although users can typically interact across servers, this process can be complicated and unreliable.
New users frequently cite the platform’s complex interface as a barrier, highlighting issues such as difficult account creation and slower response times compared to tech giants’ platforms.
Moderation of content also varies significantly, as it is managed by individual server administrators, prompting occasional access restrictions that can disrupt user experience.
Recently, Musk briefly obstructed links and search queries to Substack, a platform designed for writers to monetize their work, after it introduced Substack Notes, which allows users to share brief content and direct audiences to paywalled material. Although Musk later withdrew his decision, he has been actively promoting monetization opportunities on Twitter.
Substack Notes has faced criticism regarding its approach to content moderation but is confident its revenue model—derived from a percentage of writers’ earnings rather than advertising—will alleviate pressures to create viral content.
Several other startups are also drawing interest, particularly those that appeal to niche communities.
Right-wing platforms like Gab and Truth Social, the latter founded by former President Donald Trump, have positioned themselves as conservative alternatives to Twitter well before Musk’s arrival.
Additionally, Discord, primarily utilized by gamers, allows users to establish invite-only chat rooms for discussions on shared hobbies and interests. The platform recently made headlines when a U.S. National Guardsman allegedly leaked sensitive government documents through a Discord channel.
