Academic Twitter's Exodus
Navigating the Shift to Bluesky and Substack
The landscape of academic social media is undergoing a significant transformation as researchers increasingly abandon X (formerly Twitter) in favor of platforms like Bluesky and Substack. This shift, driven by a combination of factors, is reshaping how HigherEd pros and academics connect, share ideas, and disseminate their work.
Recent data suggests a notable decline in X's user base, with UK users dropping by one-third and US users by one-fifth. While these figures are debated, the academic community's exodus is palpable. A survey of 9,200 scientists revealed that over half have reduced their time on X, with 7% quitting entirely.
Key factors for the move by academics away from X:
Platform Changes: Elon Musk's acquisition and subsequent rebranding of Twitter to X brought significant alterations to the platform's policies and functionality. These changes, particularly the new account verification system (aka: becoming a ‘blue check’), have raised concerns about the reliability of information shared on the platform.
Misinformation Concerns: Despite claims of improvement, many users perceive X as increasingly prone to misinformation and divisive content. This environment is particularly problematic for academics who rely on factual, evidence-based discourse.
Toxicity and Polarization Leading to Ethical Concerns: The platform has become more polarized and divisive, creating a less conducive environment for academic discussions. This toxicity has pushed many researchers to seek out more collegial spaces for intellectual exchange. As a result, some academics have ditched X due to the ethical concerns about the platform’s management and direction as it supports the Trump and M*GA agenda in the US, and potential links to Russian misinformation.
As academics depart X, two platforms have emerged as popular alternatives, Bluesky and Substack. Bluesky offers a decentralized approach to social media, (in other words, you get more control…). While the platform has a familiar old-school Twitter feel, including ways to follow batches of accounts by theme (academics, NBA, Marvel movies, etc.) it is a fresh start for those seeking a break from the toxicity of X.
If you are subscribed to this newsletter, you are familiar with Substack, which allows for longer-form content and more in-depth discussions. It also offers monetization options for academics looking to share their expertise (hint, hint) while building a community of subscribers and dedicated readers.
With such shifts bring opportunities and challenges. Many academics find themselves torn between the need for broad reach and the desire for a more curated, less toxic environment. Building new networks on emerging platforms requires time and effort, and some fear losing valuable connections established on X. However, there are opportunities that may be too attractive to overlook such as the possibility of creating a more focused and meaningful community especially when Bluesky and Substack may better align with academic values.
The truly exciting part is those who have been living in the X / Twitter ecosystem for some time know who they like to follow. It will be quicker to reconnect with the accounts you are comfortable with on Bluesky and Substack, and as such the respective algorithms will encourage you to explore some related accounts that you may have overlooked due to the noise of the Twittersphere.