Social Media News Feeds Reflect Political Echo Chambers, Pew Finds

Bluesky, a fast-growing alternative to X (formerly Twitter), is emerging as a favored platform for left-leaning news influencers—but it's not replacing X just yet. A new report by the Pew Research Center reveals that social media’s news landscape is increasingly polarized.

According to Pew’s analysis, the number of news influencers with Bluesky accounts jumped from 21% in November 2024 to 43% by March 2025. Bluesky’s user base includes many individuals from the political left, with 75% of left-leaning influencers having joined the platform. In contrast, only 15% of right-leaning influencers have signed up.

Pew defines “news influencers” as individuals with over 100,000 followers who regularly post about current events. These users are not media outlets like The New York Times, but private individuals sharing commentary and news updates.

Despite the exodus of some left-leaning users to Bluesky, X remains dominant in terms of usage. Three-quarters of liberal influencers still have X accounts. The numbers are even higher among conservatives (87%) and politically unaffiliated influencers (83%).

Although X is seeing some decline in activity, the platform remains central for frequent posting. In early 2025, 83% of news influencers on X posted four or more days a week. On Bluesky, only 31% posted that frequently.

Bluesky is showing signs of increased engagement. Weekly posting activity rose from 54% in early January 2025 to 66% by the end of March. During that same time, X experienced a slight dip, with weekly activity falling from 92% to 87%.

This shift suggests a gradual migration in content creation and interaction, especially from users critical of Elon Musk’s ownership of X and his political affiliations with former President Donald Trump.

While political alignment plays a major role in Bluesky’s growth, it’s not the only factor. The platform has also been responding to user feedback by rolling out popular features—like enhanced message filtering, protections from unwanted DMs, and a verification badge system.

These updates are part of Bluesky’s effort to position itself as a more transparent, user-focused alternative to platforms that rely heavily on algorithmic feeds and advertising revenue.

The Pew findings underline how the social media space is becoming a mirror of political divisions. While Bluesky’s growth among progressive users is noteworthy, most influencers—regardless of affiliation—are still maintaining a presence on X. The result is a fragmented online news ecosystem where users are increasingly surrounded by voices that reflect their own political leanings.