City of Cambridge Joins Bluesky After Leaving X Over Accountability Concerns

The City of Cambridge, Ontario, is the latest public institution to step away from X (formerly Twitter) and embrace a newer decentralized social platform — Bluesky.

After officially deactivating its X account in February 2025, the city announced this week that it has joined Bluesky to continue engaging with residents in a more inclusive, transparent, and accessible way.

In a public statement earlier this year, the city cited a lack of "reliability, accountability, and direction" on X as the driving factor behind its departure. The platform, now owned by Elon Musk, has faced mounting criticism over content moderation, algorithm changes, and governance decisions that conflict with the values of many public service organizations.

With that context, the move to Bluesky represents not only a technological switch but also a value-based one.

“It's important to adapt to new, innovative platforms that align with our values of integrity, respect, inclusiveness, and service,” said Mayor Jan Liggett.

Cambridge highlighted Bluesky’s user-centric, decentralized infrastructure, which allows users greater control over their own data and how content appears in their feed. Unlike traditional platforms like X or Facebook, Bluesky uses a protocol that empowers users to customize their experience and even choose or create their own moderation tools.

Additionally, the platform emphasizes accessibility features, such as allowing users to require alt text for uploaded images — an important benefit for screen reader users and individuals with visual impairments.

Although Cambridge is still active on Facebook, its decision to diversify into Bluesky reflects a broader goal: reaching more residents where they already are — or where they’re heading.

“Our goal is to reach people where they are, offer timely updates, and create a respectful space where everyone feels welcome,” the city said in its announcement.