BlueSky is experiencing technical difficulties following a significant influx of users migrating from X, previously known as Twitter. This surge in interest came after Elon Musk, the owner of X, announced changes to the site’s block button functionality. Previously, this feature allowed users to conceal their profiles from certain accounts, but the modification means it will no longer serve that purpose.
In the aftermath of Musk’s announcement, BlueSky reported gaining over 100,000 new user signups within a 12-hour timeframe. However, as the platform attempts to accommodate this increase, many users are facing challenges in accessing the service and logging in.
The official BlueSky account welcomed the new users on Thursday, but later, numerous reports of login issues emerged, as noted by the tracking website Down Detector.
In response to the changes at X, BlueSky emphasized the importance of user safety through its official account, stating, “At Bluesky, we take online safety seriously. If you want to block someone, you can! It’s your experience to customize.”
Musk has criticized the old functionality of the block button, labeling it as nonsensical, and has previously suggested it might even be removed in its entirety. However, many critics argue that these adjustments could endanger vulnerable users, as the block button is essential for preventing harassment. One user pointed out, “One of the biggest functions of blocking is giving women the ability to stop weird men from constantly making them uncomfortable and scared.”