Why we’ve made the decision to move to Bluesky

At the Keeping Digital Foundation, transparency is essential to us, which is why we want to inform you of our decision to pause our use of X and instead transition to a different platform called Bluesky, alongside our existing social media channels like Instagram and Facebook. 

 

The rise in concerning content and a decline in meaningful engagement with our followers have prompted us to take a break from our X profile until further notice. Don’t worry – you can always stay updated through our website. 

 

This doesn’t mean you can’t use the platform. We aren’t here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t use. However, we must consider the best ways to communicate with our beneficiaries, and the recent surge in hate content on X means we cannot use it safely with our communities. 

 

While we continue to use our other social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook, we know many people prefer X’s format for frequent, short updates from our team. We don’t want to stop connecting with our community, which is why we have moved to Bluesky. 

 

Bluesky, which has grown in popularity, offers an alternative to X with more effective systems for blocking or suspending problematic accounts and tackling harmful behaviour. 

 

Initially a project within Twitter, Bluesky became an independent company in 2022 and is now primarily owned by its chief executive, Jay Graber. 

 

You might wonder why so much has changed with X. The recent exodus of users (including many celebrities and companies) is thought to have been spurred by owner Elon Musk’s support for President-elect Donald Trump. Additionally, users have reported more misinformation, offensive posts, and issues with blocking others on the platform, which Musk acquired for $44bn (£34bn) in 2022. 

 

As a digital inclusion charity, we understand the importance of social media platforms prioritising user safety. The removal of comprehensive blocking features on X is both dangerous and irresponsible. As an organisation dedicated to supporting our local communities, we cannot and will not ignore high-profile platforms choosing to disregard the ethics that helped build their communities. 

 

Bluesky also makes it easier to verify legitimate accounts for journalists and organisations. Businesses can use their domain name as their username (for instance, we are @keepingdigital.org), and these domain names must be verified by the domain owner. Accounts cannot simply purchase a verification checkmark on Bluesky. 

 

We are learning alongside you – and it’s okay to feel unsure when deciding whether to stay on X or not. Your choice is personal, and you must decide what is best for the communities you identify with. We will never judge or try to persuade anyone otherwise. 

 

If you choose to continue using X, that’s fine – you can still stay updated through our website. If you’re looking for an alternative, we’re now on Bluesky and would love for you to follow us and keep up-to-date with our team. 

 

Thank you.