Left-Leaning Influencers Are Quietly Migrating to Bluesky but Still Cling to X

According to a new analysis by the Pew Research Center, many left-leaning influencers are migrating to Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, without fully cutting ties with X (formerly Twitter).

Pew’s update—an extension of its November 2024 news influencer report—tracks a curated group of 500 high-profile influencers, each with over 100,000 followers. Their findings reveal that 43% of these influencers had joined Bluesky as of February/March 2025. Notably, 69% of the influencers who support Democrats or openly backed Kamala Harris and Joe Biden before the 2024 election now have a presence on Bluesky.

However, this platform switch doesn’t reflect an abandonment of X. Despite Elon Musk’s growing alliance with President Donald Trump, 82% of influencers still actively maintain their accounts on X, dropping only slightly from 85% in mid-2025. The message is clear: while influencers are testing new waters, they are not jumping ship just yet.

The Bluesky movement appears more ideological than strategic, as the numbers show a stark divide: only 15% of conservative influencers have made the transition. This signals Bluesky’s growing image as a safe haven for liberal discourse in a digital world increasingly colored by political bias and ownership drama.

Though users may be signing up, engagement still skews in favor of X. According to Pew, 87% of influencers post more frequently on X than on Bluesky. Yet, momentum is building. Bluesky has seen a steady rise in activity, with posting rates increasing from 54% in early January to 66% by the end of March.

The platform war may still be in its early rounds, but it’s clear that Bluesky is becoming more than just a backup plan. As public trust in legacy platforms continues to waver, and with Musk’s political connections drawing skepticism, influencers are hedging their digital bets—seeking both reach and ideological refuge.