Bluesky’s mobile app usage has fallen significantly since late 2024, prompting the company to pivot toward developing its underlying AT Protocol and new tools.
Key facts
- •Bluesky’s monthly active mobile users fell from 22.1 million in Q4 2024 to 10.7 million in Q2 2026.
- •Mobile daily active users for Bluesky dropped 25.6% year-over-year in July to approximately 3 million.
- •Bluesky reports having nearly 46 million registered users despite the decline in active engagement.
- •Threads saw a 21.3% year-over-year increase in daily active users, reaching 147 million in July 2026.
- •X’s mobile daily active users declined 7% in July to 123.7 million.
- •Bluesky is expanding its focus to the AT Protocol and new tools like the AI-powered research tool Attie.
The decentralized social network Bluesky is experiencing a decline in mobile app engagement following a surge in user interest after the November 2024 U.S. elections. According to data from Similarweb, the platform's monthly active users dropped by more than half from its late-2024 peak, falling to 10.4 million by June 2026. Despite these declines, the company is shifting its strategic focus toward the AT Protocol, which powers various independent social applications and services.
By the numbers
Declining App Engagement Metrics
Similarweb data indicates that Bluesky’s mobile app usage has seen a consistent downward trend. Monthly active users fell by 27.2% year-over-year in June 2026, while daily active users dropped 25.6% year-over-year in July to approximately 3 million. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, when the app averaged 22.1 million monthly active users, the second quarter of 2026 saw that figure decline to 10.7 million, representing a 52% decrease. Despite the lower volume, the remaining community maintains a stickiness rate of roughly 29%, comparable to that of Meta’s Threads.
Strategic Pivot to AT Protocol and New Tools
Under CEO Toni Schneider, Bluesky is prioritizing the development of the AT Protocol to support a broader ecosystem of social apps, including BlackSky, Eurosky, and the video-focused platform Skylight. The company is also diversifying its product offerings with the AI-powered research tool Attie and is developing support for private data. These initiatives aim to attract users interested in private networking rather than public square interactions. While Bluesky reports nearly 46 million registered users, it does not publicly disclose specific daily or monthly active usage figures.
Broader Social Media Landscape
Data suggests that users leaving Bluesky are not necessarily returning to X. X’s mobile daily active users fell 7% in July to 123.7 million, and its monthly active users on mobile declined 3% year-over-year in June. Conversely, Meta’s Threads has seen growth, with daily active users rising 21.3% year-over-year to 147 million in July 2026, and website visits increasing by 112% to 471.6 million.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TechCrunch.
