Social network Bluesky is outlining its plans for the coming year, with a renewed emphasis on core functionality alongside anticipated features like improved algorithmic feeds and recommendations. The company acknowledges a need to bolster basic features to retain users and compete with established platforms. This comes as Bluesky, launched to the public in early 2024, currently boasts over 42 million users, according to its own API data, but has experienced a recent slowdown in daily active users.
Bluesky Addresses Usage Dip, Prioritizes Core Features
Bluesky’s head of product, Alex Benzer, recently detailed the company’s roadmap, stating that “the basics need to be solid” before focusing on more advanced features. This admission follows reports of a 40% year-over-year decrease in daily active users as of October 2025, data sourced from market intelligence provider Similarweb and reported by Forbes. The decline suggests that while Bluesky has attracted a substantial user base, retaining them requires more than just a differentiated, decentralized approach.
Improving the User Experience
Several key improvements are planned for the app’s core functionality. Benzer highlighted the need for a better media composer, noting current limitations with video length (three minutes) and upload speeds. Users will also soon be able to post more than four photos at a time, and the process of creating threads will be streamlined. These changes aim to address common frustrations and bring Bluesky’s feature set more in line with competitors like X and Instagram.
While the development of private accounts remains a longer-term goal, dependent on updates to the underlying AT Protocol, Bluesky is actively working on enhancing its public-facing features. Improvements to the Discover feed are planned, potentially including topic tags to help users find relevant content. The “who to follow” suggestions will also be refined to improve the quality of connections within the network.
Enhancing Real-Time Engagement and Interoperability
Bluesky is also looking to cultivate a more “real-time” feel within the app. The company is developing curation tools to create timely, high-quality custom feeds for live events, such as sports or political happenings. Benzer described a vision for feeds that feel less like passive scrolling and more like active participation in a shared experience. This push for immediacy is a direct response to the dynamic nature of social media and the demand for up-to-the-minute information.
A significant aspect of Bluesky’s strategy involves fostering interoperability within the broader AT Protocol ecosystem. Recent integrations allow users to display a “LIVE” badge on their Bluesky profile when streaming on platforms like Twitch and Streamplace, both built on the AT Protocol. Benzer indicated that additional integrations are “coming soon,” signaling a commitment to a more interconnected social web. This focus on interoperability is a core tenet of the decentralized social media movement, aiming to give users more control over their data and online experiences.
However, Bluesky faces stiff competition. While it initially benefited from users seeking alternatives to X, Meta’s Threads has emerged as a strong contender. Threads is currently outpacing X in daily mobile users, according to new data, though X maintains a lead on desktop. Threads’ rapid growth is largely attributed to its backing by Meta, which provides substantial resources for development and promotion.
The Threads Advantage
Threads has been consistently adding new features, including interest-based communities, enhanced filters, direct messaging, long-form text posts, and disappearing posts. This aggressive development cycle has helped differentiate Threads from X and attract a wider audience. Notably, Threads has also shifted its focus to prioritize creator content, potentially appealing to users who were dissatisfied with X’s direction. The success of Threads underscores the importance of continuous innovation and a robust feature set in the competitive social media landscape.
The future of Bluesky hinges on its ability to deliver on its promises of improved core functionality and a more engaging user experience. While the company has made significant strides in building a decentralized platform, attracting and retaining users requires a commitment to addressing their immediate needs and providing a compelling alternative to mainstream social networks. The next year will be critical in determining whether Bluesky can solidify its position as a viable long-term competitor in the evolving social media space, and whether the AT Protocol can truly gain traction as a foundation for a more open and interoperable web. Monitoring user growth, feature adoption, and the pace of development will be key indicators of its success.
