At a Glance
- Bluesky now supports Twitch livestream badges and stock-focused cashtags
- U.S. iOS downloads jumped 49% after X deepfake controversy
- Downloads rose from 19,500 to 29,000 in one week
- Why it matters: New features aim to keep newcomers engaged as the network competes with X for real-time conversations
Bluesky is rolling out two updates designed to lure users away from X: Twitch integration and stock-ticker hashtags called cashtags. The moves arrive as the social network rides a wave of new installs triggered by backlash against X’s handling of nonconsensual deepfake images.
Downloads Spike After X Controversy
Data from Appfigures shows Bluesky’s U.S. iOS installs climbing steeply. The network typically records about 4,000 daily downloads stateside, but from December 30, 2025, through January 6, 2026, the app was installed roughly 19,500 times. The following seven-day period pushed that figure to 29,000, a 49% jump.
The surge followed reports that X users were prompting its built-in AI bot Grok to create sexualized images of women and minors without consent. California’s attorney general opened an investigation into xAI’s chatbot on January 8, intensifying scrutiny of the platform.
New Features Target X’s Core Use Cases
Twitch Live Badges
Bluesky is widening access to its experimental “Live Now” badge. Users can append a temporary “LIVE” label to their avatar to signal they are streaming on Twitch. The feature does not yet support going live directly inside Bluesky and remains Twitch-only.
Cashtags for Stock Talk
Cashtags-ticker symbols preceded by a dollar sign-let users tag posts about publicly traded companies. Typing $AAPL will create a clickable link that aggregates all posts mentioning Apple’s stock, mirroring a function popularized by Stocktwits and later adopted by Twitter in 2012.
Past Slump Underscores Retention Challenge
The recent uptick reverses a downward trend recorded throughout 2025. Appfigures noted that Bluesky downloads hit new lows in April, and Similarweb data showed daily average mobile users falling nearly 40% by late October. Pew Research also found that while influencers maintain Bluesky accounts, most still post more frequently on X.
Key Takeaways
- Bluesky’s U.S. iOS downloads leapt from 19,500 to 29,000 in one week
- New Twitch badges and cashtags aim to replicate X staples
- Retaining newcomers may hinge on shifting long-standing user habits
