Where are Twitter Users Going? A Comparison of Alternative Text-Centric Platforms

It has been almost two years since Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as “X” (July 2023). Following the new ownership, rebranding, and subsequent changes, X has experienced a significant decline in its user base. With users fleeing the platform, there will be an expected loss of 7 million monthly active users (EMARKETERS). But where are these users going? 

While X is still being used by those who are considered “news junkies” and sports fans, there are various text-centric social platforms/apps that are receiving an increase in numbers from those fleeing X. These platforms include Instagram Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky.  

Ever wonder where your voice might thrive as an individual or an organization? Here is an overview of the differences between these platforms and how they compare with each other and X.  

Instagram Threads 

Meta officially launched Instagram Threads on July 5, 2023, only a few weeks before Elon Musk acquired Twitter, and it was launched as a conversational complement to Instagram.  

Being launched so close to Twitter’s rebranding, it almost seemed like the perfect time to obtain users.  

Threads allow users to share text posts, images, and short videos with their followers. Seamless integration with Instagram’s existing user base makes onboarding easy for those already on the app. If you have an Instagram account to link with your Threads account, it automatically transfers your Instagram following to Threads or in the platform’s words, a “built-in audience and follower migration”.  

Some other key Threads’ features include a 500-character limit per post, image and video support, and the ability to reply, share, like, repost, or quote other users’ threads. You can also tag people, a location, or a topic in your posts, you can add a poll, and even add alternative text of your post on Threads.  

While it does provide familiarity for Instagram users, there are some features that Threads is missing that other platforms provide. Instagram Threads has not yet integrated direct messaging and has limited hashtag usage.  

Another issue that users see with Instagram Threads is that it follows an algorithm, and having an algorithm-driven timeline can have its negative effects for individuals or businesses who want to sponsor organic content.  

While Threads has positioned itself as a friendlier, more welcoming, and less chaotic version of X, the lack of some advanced features and the algorithm-driven timeline has driven some users away.  

If you consider yourself to be a visual storyteller or your content is image-based, Instagram Threads would be the best platform for you, as it offers the best integration for sharing visuals alongside text.  

Mastodon 

Mastodon was publicly launched in October 2016. The platform started out as an open-source project by Eugen Rochko, who was “an avid user” of Twitter since 2008 and was “dissatisfied with the state and direction of Twitter” almost a decade ago (MASTODON).  

Eugen Rochko sought to build a “user-friendly microblogging product that would not belong to any central authority but remain practical for everyday use.” 

Now, Mastodon is part of a collection of free, decentralized, and loosely organized group of servers referred to as the “Fediverse” (aka “federated universe”). While it looks similar to Twitter/X, it is more complex, with some people quoting it as a combination of Twitter and Tumblr.  

With Mastodon, you can post, share, reblog, hashtag, and create lists, all while incorporating GIFs, videos, and images. Mastodon also lets you fully express yourself by allowing a 5,000-character limit on some posts, with the default post being 500 characters.  

As of March 23, 2025, Mastodon reported that their metrics include 904k monthly active users with over 4.9k running servers. Rather than being a single platform, Mastodon operates across independent servers where users can join based on their interests or preferences.  

Mastodon’s key features are that it has a federated network structure with multiple varying servers, it's an open-source and community-driven platform, and it has a strong focus on user privacy and data security. Users have greater control over the content they are shown and have more privacy with their data.  

Mastodon is a community-driven platform that encourages organic interactions without any algorithmic influence like Instagram Threads have. This allows servers to create communities for niche groups as those communities choose what they want their feed to include.  

The downside to Mastodon is that it has a steep learning curve for new users. Finding servers and content that users would want to see could be difficult without knowing the ins and outs of the platform. The decentralized model makes finding content or specific users more challenging but also encourages feed customization. Mastodon also has a smaller, more fragmented user base compared to mainstream platforms.  

If you are someone who is a community enthusiast and looks to create a customizable timeline/feed, Mastodon provides just that for those willing to explore the various servers and communities that thrive on that platform.  

Bluesky 

Bluesky is a decentralized social media platform that was initially developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019. Bluesky became an independent company in 2021 and officially opened to the public in February 2024. After the 2024 presidential election, Bluesky saw a big boost in users, but since then, the growth has slowed and has not gotten as much traction as Instagram Threads has. As of February 2025,  

Bluesky aims to provide users with an open and transparent environment for discussion and conversation. Bluesky is built on the Authenticated Transfer Protocol (AT Protocol), meaning that the open-source framework for building such a social app is transparent to users- transparent on how the app is built and being developed. 

This protocol allows users to switch between different hosting services while retaining their data and previous social connections. This is slightly different than Mastodon’s network in the way that Mastodon’s servers determine your community but on Bluesky, your experience is based on what feeds and accounts you follow, “and you can always participate in the global conversation (e.g. breaking news, viral posts, and algorithmic feeds)” (BLUESKY). You can use your specific domain name for your username and continue participating from anywhere your account is hosted. 

Bluesky also differentiates from Mastodon when it comes to moderation (stackable community guidelines vs server-tied moderation), composable feeds (designed for you vs who you follow), and account portability. You can read more about this on BlueskyFAQ. 

Some of Bluesky’s key features include an ad-free experience with a minimalist design, a focus on privacy and user ownership of content, and when it was in its early stages of development, it used to be invitation-only, but now Bluesky is open to all users. The platform strongly encourages user ownership of data content, making it more welcoming than other social platforms. 

Bluesky does have a few cons dealing with its limited features while it is still developing, starting as invitation-only restricted early attendees, and its low user base may limit social connections.  

If you are someone who makes content but worries about privacy- if you are a privacy advocate and an innovator, Bluesky offers decentralized control and an evolving social experience.  

Conclusion 

Overall, the right platform for you depends on your goals, your approach to privacy, and how much control you want over your online experience. Whether you are a content creator, privacy advocate, or community enthusiast, these platforms provide you with a wide range of options to choose from as an alternative to X, offering you a platform that aligns with your needs.  

As social media continues to evolve, exploring these alternatives could help you find the best fit for your voice.  

Remember: 

Instagram has an algorithm-driven timeline but offers a clean and simple interface for visual storytellers.  

Mastodon offers a different experience with its federated network, offering more control to those willing to invest time learning how the decentralized model works and who want to join niche communities.  

And Bluesky, even as a new and growing platform with a currently small user base, focuses on transparency and offers an ad-free platform with customizable experiences and potential for a more secure and user-driven environment.  

Which platforms do you think will best serve your needs? How do you feel about these platforms? Leave a comment!