Progressives Abandon X for Bluesky, Seeking a Harassment-Free Zone
Following Donald Trump’s recent win, a significant portion of the Online Left — including progressive academics, journalists, and influencers — migrated from Elon Musk’s X to Bluesky in search of a more welcoming environment.
Kevin Roose of The New York Times enthusiastically noted that this emerging social media platform liberated him from Musk’s relentless transformation of X into a right-wing echo chamber.
Perhaps most absurdly, The Atlantic cautioned with a laughable assertion that “The Right Has a Bluesky Problem.”
However, while the Left praises Bluesky as a more refined alternative to X, it is clear that the platform grapples with the same issues and serves as a microcosm of the flaws that facilitated Trump’s rise.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) remarked to The Washington Post, “The usability, community, and relative lack of harassment here allow me to be a lot more candid about my work and discuss events and decisions in real time with actual people.”
This statement was a prime example of her obliviousness.
It’s true that Ocasio-Cortez may not face harassment, but that’s largely because her critics are being targeted instead.
While Bluesky may serve as a safe haven for her and her like-minded comrades, it can be an inhospitable environment for dissenters.
Since joining the platform, journalist Jesse Singal has endured unimaginable harassment, featuring smears, death threats, and efforts to expose his home address.
His only “offense”? Speaking out about the scientific reality surrounding gender-transition treatments for minors.
One particularly insightful user lamented, “Jesse singal get f*cked and die stupid kiddy f*cker piece of sh*t trash sub human b*tch. F*ck I hope someone breaks every bone in your body and castrated you penis and balls then beat you to death stupid bt*ch.”
Another user ominously suggested, “I think if we all tried hard enough we could get Jesse Singal to kill himself, but that’s just me.”
Amidst the backlash, larger accounts joined the fray, rallying to support the drive to have the victim, rather than his assailants, removed from the platform.
Kevin Kruse — a controversial figure accused of plagiarism and one of the less distinguished leftist historians — claimed that Bluesky was “built” by “a wave of trans early adopters.”
“It’s a f*cking insult that the mods here are allowing a deliberate troll like Singal to operate here and bully them,” he added.
“Signed. Now What’s his @ so I can block & report him?” inquired singer Lizzo while sharing the petition to oust Singal.
Singal is not alone in becoming a target of Bluesky’s left-leaning mob mentality.
After Politico’s Michael Kruse posted a quote from a colleague’s article about the exodus from X, he was subjected to the comment, “go and f*ck yourself in the ass with a running chainsaw,” and subsequently banned by the platform’s moderators.
It seems the supporters of Bluesky are not exhibiting better conduct or creating a more secure atmosphere than their counterparts on X.
On the contrary, they’re fostering a safe space solely for the tiny fraction of the populace that shares their exact beliefs, while harassing those who dissent.
Incredibly, the reaction of some progressives to Trump’s significant electoral win is to retreat further into their echo chambers.
Therefore, it is not the Right that faces a newfound Bluesky dilemma; rather, it is the Left that has a longstanding issue with intolerance.
If the growing popularity of Bluesky is any indication, this problem shows no signs of disappearing.
Isaac Schorr is a staff writer at Mediaite.
