Author: Alexander Martin, PhD Student, Science and Technology Studies, York University, Canada

There has recently been a shift online from centralized platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to decentralized alternatives like Bluesky. In particular, many users unhappy with the politics and antics of X owner Elon Musk are moving to Bluesky. Users migrating from X have cited a rise in bots and hate speech as the reason for leaving the site. Journalist Cory Doctorow termed this the idea of “enshittification,” a process where platforms get worse by focusing on profit and spreading harmful content. Under Musk, X has seemingly shifted to promote more extreme accounts, making the platform less welcoming to others. These…