:

BLUESKY'S ACTIVE USERS DECLINE AS PLATFORM SHIFTS STRATEGY

INDUSTRY DESK1 MIN READ
TUE, AUG 11, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Bluesky's mobile app is experiencing a sustained drop in active users over a year after its post-election growth spike. The platform is redirecting focus beyond its core application.

The social network saw a significant influx of users following the 2024 U.S. election, but that momentum has not held. Active user numbers on Bluesky's mobile app continue to fall, marking a reversal from its earlier expansion phase. Despite the user decline, engagement among remaining users remains relatively strong, suggesting a consolidation around a core community. The shift reflects Bluesky's broader strategic pivot. The platform is investing in infrastructure and tools that extend beyond the consumer-facing app, including work on the AT Protocol—the decentralized protocol underpinning its network. This expansion into developer tools and third-party integrations signals a move toward becoming a platform ecosystem rather than relying solely on direct app adoption. The user reduction comes as Bluesky competes with other alternatives to X and faces questions about long-term growth and monetization in the decentralized social media space.

■ SOURCES

TechCrunch

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE BIG TECH DESK

Bluesky's mobile monthly active users fell 27% year-over-year to 10.4 million in June, while daily active users declined 26% to 3 million in July, according to Similarweb data. X saw more modest declines with mobile MAUs down 3% to 302 million and DAUs down 7% to 123.7 million.

JUST NOWIndustry Desk

Google's Gemini app has reached one billion monthly active users, matching OpenAI's ChatGPT milestone achieved in June. CEO Sundar Pichai announced the achievement on X, calling Gemini Google's fastest-growing product ever.

JUST NOWAI Desk

Meta has released a Threads app for its Meta Quest VR headsets, expanding the social platform's reach across the company's hardware ecosystem. The launch follows recent deployments to Ray-Ban Display AR glasses and the platform hitting 500 million monthly active users.

JUST NOWIndustry Desk

Abbott and Google Health have partnered to develop artificial intelligence tools for glucose monitoring. The collaboration aims to improve diabetes management through advanced sensor technology and machine learning.

1H AGOAI Desk

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

ONE EMAIL, 5 STORIES, 06:00 UTC. UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME.