As more and more people make the switch from X to Bluesky, users say the change is impacting their mental health for the better.
X, the app formally known as Twitter, was once a forum for friendly idea exchanges, viral memes, and an online community. But when tech billionaire Elon Musk took over the company in April of 2022, the app began to change.
A lack of content moderation, the elimination of the blocking feature, the addition of the “For you” feed, an altered algorithm, the boosting of extreme right-wing content, and increased advertising turned the website into what some online are referring to as “a toxic wasteland.”
As a result, many longtime X users are deleting their accounts in favor of a different app: Bluesky.
The social networking site, initially developed as a research initiative at Twitter, opened for public registration in February of 2024. It features more strict rules against hate speech and harassment, an algorithm more similar to the original Twitter, and the ability to block other users. Usership has grown exponentially since the United States election — and registrants are saying that switching to the new app has done wonders for their mental wellbeing.
As of November 18, Bluesky usage had increased by more than 500% in the U.S. since the election and over 350% in the United Kingdom, according to data from Similarweb. The app has more than 22 million users as of publication, according to Jaz's Bluesky index, and that number continues to increase quite literally every second.
“When Twitter, now X, first launched, it was all about sharing quick, casual thoughts and connecting with others in a laid-back, fun way,” says Michelle Beaupre, Ph.D., LCSW, the clinical director at addiction rehabilitation center Villa Oasis. “Over time, however, it’s become a platform filled with spam, hate speech, and online fights. If users are saying the platform feels ‘toxic,’ it probably means there aren’t enough rules or systems in place to keep things respectful.”
‘More of a feel-good app’
When Brianna Wellen finally decided to make the switch from X to Bluesky earlier this month, she says she felt an immediate sense of relief.
Wellen says she has particularly enjoyed “seeing people just making silly jokes and finding that [her] feed actually was just people [she] followed.”
In that sense, it's more of a feel-good app.
Wellen
Wellen actually met her boyfriend through X, and she says she made sure to take a screenshot of that interaction before deleting her account for good.
“It was a reminder that it was good while it lasted and used to actually be a reliable source of community,” she says. “It's just veered so far off the path since then."
Colin Smith says he, too, has found that switching to Bluesky has been better for his mental health. Though Smith was a frequent X user at one time, he says he’s been avoiding it for the past year due to “the right-wing propaganda, conspiracy theories, hate speech, abusers emboldened to go after their victims, and all of the other hate and negativity."
While he still has an X account, he says he’s considering deleting it soon, especially since so many people have begun to migrate to Bluesky.
"It's definitely a huge upgrade on the mental health front,” he says.
Why Bluesky is better for mental health
Switching to a new platform can feel like a fresh start, says Beaupre, especially when the old one has endured so many negative changes in recent months and years. One of the main pros of Bluesky is that it can offer a more positive space since it has stricter rules against harmful content, she says.
“This can possibly lessen the negativity seen on the app,” she tells Healthnews, “which can make users feel safer and more supported.”
When people say they feel better on platforms with less hate speech, Shebna N. Osanmoh I, PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Savant Care, INC., says it makes perfect sense.
“In most cases, our brains react to negative content like a threat, triggering stress hormones even when we are just scrolling,” he explains. “A more positive space can reduce this background stress we might not even realize we are carrying.”
At a time when many are lonely and looking for connection, a new app with less negative content can also help foster that sense of community that is so desperately desired.
Bluesky is still a social media app
Blueksky may provide a more positive atmosphere than X, but mental health professionals warn that it is still just another social media platform that can easily consume too much of our attention or time. It, too, can have negative effects on mental wellbeing.
Though she is enjoying the reprieve from X’s hateful content, Wellen is quite aware of this fact.
“Even though I deleted [X], there is still another app that I can now stare at on my phone or computer for hours which I think overall is still not the best for my mental health,” Wellen says. “It feels a little like I'm weaning myself off smoking cigarettes with a vape.”
Beaupre says it's important to remember that even if Bluesky offers a better experience, social media — regardless of how positive it seems — can still possibly contribute to mental health challenges over time. All the negativity online won't realistically just disappear overnight or stay in one place, she says, and spending hours of your day scrolling can still have its consequences.
“Too much screen time, even on a platform with better systems, can still possibly cause feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and burnout,” she says. “Social media, in general, also tends to create unrealistic standards, making people feel like they’re falling short, especially when they’re constantly seeing a ‘perfect’ version of everyone else’s life.”
For a healthier relationship with social media, Osanmoh I recommends setting specific time limits for apps and turning off most notifications.
“It is crucial to follow accounts that genuinely make you feel good and pay attention to your mood before and after using any platform,” he says. “The best platform is the one you can engage with mindfully while maintaining real-world connections and activities.”
Indeed, finding a healthy balance between social media and life beyond your phone is the key to protecting your mental health, Beaupre says. Instead of spending all day on your phone or laptop, ensure you carve out time for productive things that will recharge you, she says, such as hobbies, traveling to new places, or simply hanging out with the people you love.
Social media is great for staying connected, but it shouldn’t take over your life. Keeping that balance will help you enjoy the good parts without letting it feel overwhelming.
Beaupre
It’s also a good idea to take a moment to check in with yourself every once in a while — both mentally and emotionally, she says. Pause and ask yourself if social media is still fun for you or if it’s starting to feel draining.
“If it’s leaving you stressed or overwhelmed, that’s a pretty good sign it’s time to take a break,” Beaupre says. “Social media can be great when it’s working for you, but it’s definitely not worth sacrificing your peace of mind.”
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