Bluesky Trials Live Features to Compete with X

Bluesky is gearing up to enhance the app’s “live” experience this year as part of its strategy to compete with Elon Musk’s X platform. In a recent update on Bluesky’s 2026 development plans, product head Alex Benzer shared that the team is focused on making feeds more interactive and timely, especially during live events, while also hinting at improvements in posting and follow suggestions.

“We’re looking into new features and interactions that will transform feeds from mere scrolling into a more engaging experience,” Benzer explained. “Our goal is to make the app feel more ‘live’ overall. We’re taking an experimental approach, so while I can’t promise specifics, you can expect us to delve into real-time and event-centric features this year.”

The update also points to necessary enhancements in core functionalities, such as adding draft support, enabling longer videos, speeding up video uploads, and refining follow suggestions. While Bluesky doesn’t explicitly commit to these improvements this year, it acknowledges that “the basics need to be solid” to retain users. A dedicated team is being assembled to oversee Bluesky’s Discover feed, and the exploration of topic tags aims to help users find relevant posts and interests more easily.

With approximately 1.5 million daily active users, Bluesky still has a significant journey ahead to catch up to Threads, which boasts around 150 million daily users, and X, with over 270 million. By focusing on creating “live moments,” Bluesky aims to attract X users who long for the experience Twitter offered before its controversial changes under Musk’s leadership.

“We need more clarity these days. We miss having fun online,” Benzer remarked. “Bluesky is one of the few public networks left where you can enjoy both without feeling ensnared in a profit-driven propaganda machine run by a billionaire.”