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Bluesky Challenges Threads and X for Social Media Dominance | Pivot

Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway dive into Bluesky's meteoric rise, breaking down its explosive growth. They examine at whether Meta is feeling the heat, and look at Bluesky's financial prospects. Subscribe to Pivot on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pivot/id1073226719 Subscribe to Pivot on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4MU3RFGELZxPT9XHVwTNPR Follow us on Instagram and Threads at: https://www.instagram.com/pivotpodcastofficial Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@PIVOTPODCAST Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot #pivot #podcast #Bluesky #Threads #SocialMedia #TechTrends

Kara SwisherhostScott Gallowayhost
Nov 26, 20248mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Bluesky’s Rapid Rise Pressures Threads and X in Social Shake-Up

  1. Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss Bluesky’s explosive user growth and how it is reshaping the competitive landscape with Threads and X (formerly Twitter). They highlight that Bluesky has surged from 13 to 23 million users in two weeks, now rivaling or surpassing Threads in daily active usage, while Meta scrambles to copy its features. The conversation explores why users find Bluesky appealing—its fun, newsy vibe reminiscent of old Twitter without the toxicity—and how its decentralized protocol and woman-led leadership differentiate it. They also examine Bluesky’s funding, likely valuation trajectory, and the broader shift of ad dollars within social and media platforms.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Bluesky has become the hottest new product in tech by growth and buzz.

Its user base jumped from 13 to 23 million in two weeks, and daily usage now rivals or exceeds Threads, signaling strong product-market fit and momentum.

User experience differentiation is driving platform choice, not simple either-or loyalty.

Bluesky offers a cool, news-forward, old-Twitter vibe, while Threads functions more like an Instagram-with-text hub that’s better for marketing and viral entertainment content.

Meta is reacting competitively by copying Bluesky-like features.

Threads is rolling out custom feeds and re-embracing news and politics, suggesting Bluesky’s traction is influencing product roadmaps at much larger incumbents.

Bluesky’s protocol approach aims to be “billionaire-proof” and user-portable.

By being a protocol that can host many feeds and let users take their data with them, Bluesky is trying to reduce single-owner platform risk and centralization.

Investor interest is intense, and Bluesky’s valuation is likely to soar quickly.

After a $15M Series A (implying a sub-$1B valuation), Galloway predicts a new round within 90 days at over $1B, reflecting its position in a hot category with network effects.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

“This is the hottest new product in tech right now, no doubt.”

Scott Galloway

“Blue Sky is like the coolest bar you’ve ever been to, and why are you over at The Cheesecake Factory?”

Kara Swisher (quoting Amanda, then riffing on it)

“Its usage, its daily active usage, is now greater than Threads.”

Scott Galloway

“The CEO has said the platform is billionaire-proof because it’s not one centralized feed of content.”

Kara Swisher

“So, yeah, why would you invest? So you can make a shit ton of money.”

Scott Galloway

Bluesky’s rapid user growth and engagement metricsCompetitive dynamics between Bluesky, Threads, and X/TwitterProduct experience: fun, news-centric Bluesky vs. marketing-friendly ThreadsDecentralization, protocol design, and the idea of being “billionaire-proof”Bluesky’s funding, valuation prospects, and investor interestAdvertising and media spend as a resilient, shifting revenue poolContent moderation, “censorship” rhetoric, and Elon Musk’s echo chamber

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