Communities of scientists are emerging on Bluesky

A growing community of scientists is emerging on the social media platform Bluesky, which is seen as a more favorable alternative to X (formerly Twitter). Recent data indicates a significant increase in the number of influential scientists on Bluesky, rising from 8,900 in February to 22,225 by August 2024, marking a 150% growth. This increase may be attributed to either a rise in the number of scientists joining Bluesky or an increase in existing users following one another. Despite Bluesky's overall slow growth, it has attracted scientists seeking a less cluttered environment for professional networking, allowing them to focus on relevant content without distractions. The platform has fostered distinct scientific communities across various fields, including philosophy, microbiology, and economics. The emergence of these communities suggests that scientists are willing to migrate to smaller platforms if they can find like-minded colleagues there. The article also highlights the development of a list of the top 100 science influencers on Bluesky, created through a methodical extraction process. The future of scientific social media remains uncertain, with potential pathways for either consolidation on a few large platforms or fragmentation across multiple smaller ones.

- The number of influential scientists on Bluesky has increased by 150% in six months.

- Bluesky is seen as a viable alternative for scientists seeking focused networking.

- Distinct scientific communities are forming on Bluesky across various disciplines.

- Scientists are more likely to join smaller platforms if they find existing communities.

- The future of scientific social media could lead to either consolidation or fragmentation.