Bluesky Hits Record High in Daily Active Users After Elon Musk Announces Subscription Fee for X

Bluesky, a decentralized social network that is still in its early stages of development, has seen a record surge in daily active users after Elon Musk announced that he would begin charging all X users a small monthly fee to use its services.

According to analytics firm Similarweb, Bluesky’s Android app saw half a million daily active users on the day of Musk’s announcement, September 18, and its web traffic surged even higher, with over 775,000 daily visitors. This represents a 20.6% increase in daily active users on Android and a 30% increase in daily visitors on the web from the day prior.

The surge in traffic was so great that Bluesky was forced to temporarily halt new user sign-ups as its website buckled under the influx.

This is not the first time that Bluesky has benefited from Musk’s missteps with X. In the past, Bluesky has seen similar surges in traffic after other X controversies, such as the imposition of temporary rate limits on the number of tweets users could view and the announcement of the end of blocks.

Despite Bluesky’s recent growth, it is still a very small platform compared to X. Bluesky currently has just over 1 million users, while X has over 550 million monthly active users.

However, the fact that Bluesky is able to consistently benefit from X’s blunders suggests that there is a growing appetite for alternatives to X. Bluesky’s decentralized architecture and commitment to free speech make it a particularly attractive option for users who are dissatisfied with X’s direction.

Here are some additional details and insights:

Bluesky is still invite-only, so the surge in usage this week could have been even higher if it had opened up its doors to anyone interested in joining.
Bluesky is the largest of the microblogging networks that are directly competing with X, but it is still very small compared to X.
Despite its small size, Bluesky is growing rapidly and is well-positioned to capitalize on X’s missteps.
Bluesky’s decentralized architecture and commitment to free speech make it a particularly attractive option for users who are dissatisfied with X’s direction.

Overall, the article provides a good overview of Bluesky’s recent growth and its potential as a competitor to X. The article also highlights the risks that X faces as it continues to alienate its users.

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Social Tech

Mark Zuckerberg is preparing advertisements and a premium tier for Meta’s AI app

by George Mensah 2025-05-01

In a strategic shift, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed plans for a premium subscription tier for Meta AI, positioning it to compete directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus, Google’s Gemini Advanced, and Microsoft’s Copilot Pro. The announcement came during Meta’s Q1 2025 earnings call, signaling a major push to monetize its rapidly growing AI platform.

With nearly 1 billion users already engaging with Meta AI across Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and its new standalone app, this move could reshape the AI subscription wars. But will users pay for yet another premium chatbot?

Why Is Meta Introducing a Paid AI Tier?

Zuckerberg framed the decision as a natural evolution:

“There’s an opportunity to offer a premium service for people who want to unlock more compute or additional functionality.”

This suggests Meta AI’s paid version could include:
✔ Faster, more powerful AI responses (similar to GPT-4 Turbo in ChatGPT Plus)
✔ Advanced image generation (beyond current free capabilities)
✔ Early access to new AI features (like multi-modal AI or coding assistance)
✔ Ad-free or priority support

Meta’s AI Expansion: A $72 Billion Bet

Meta’s AI ambitions are skyrocketing, with key developments:

New Standalone Meta AI App – Launched this week, allowing direct chatbot interaction and image generation.
Massive Investment Increase – AI spending projections jumped from 65Bto65Bto72B, outpacing rivals.
Ads & Product Recommendations Coming – Zuckerberg hinted at AI-powered shopping integrations, similar to Google’s SGE.

But here’s the catch: Meta won’t rush monetization. Zuckerberg emphasized:

“We’ll be focused on scaling and deepening engagement for at least the next year before building out the business.”

This means the paid tier may not launch until 2026, giving Meta time to refine its AI before charging users.

How Does Meta AI Compare to Paid Rivals?

Feature	Meta AI (Free)	Meta AI (Paid?)	ChatGPT Plus	Gemini Advanced
Speed/Performance	Standard	Likely faster	GPT-4 Turbo	Gemini Ultra
Image Generation	Yes (basic)	Advanced?	DALL·E 3	Imagen 2
Multi-Modal AI	Limited	Possible upgrade	Yes (voice/vision)	Yes (Gemini 1.5)
Price	Free	TBA (Est. 10−10−20/mo)	$20/month	$19.99/month

Key Question: Will Meta undercut competitors on pricing, or match them with superior features?

The Bigger Picture: Meta’s AI Monetization Strategy

Freemium Model Works – Like OpenAI, Meta will likely keep a free tier to retain mass adoption.
Ads Are Coming – AI-generated product recommendations could boost Meta’s ad revenue (already at $42B last quarter).
Hardware Synergy? – Could Meta AI Pro bundle with Quest VR or Ray-Ban Meta glasses?

Expert Analysis: Can Meta Compete with OpenAI & Google?

As a digital strategist tracking AI trends since 2020, I see three possible outcomes:

✅ Success Scenario – If Meta AI’s paid tier offers unique social integrations (e.g., WhatsApp business tools), it could carve a niche.
⚠ Mid-Tier Performer – If it’s just a ChatGPT clone, users may stick with established players.
❌ Struggle Scenario – If Meta rushes ads too aggressively, it could alienate users (like X/Twitter’s AI backlash).

What Should Users Do Now?

🔹 Try Meta AI’s Free Tier – Test its image generation & chatbot before paying.
🔹 Watch for Early Beta Access – Meta may offer discounts for early subscribers.
🔹 Compare Alternatives – Gemini Advanced and Copilot Pro still lead in enterprise AI.

Final Verdict: A Bold Gamble, But Will It Pay Off?

Meta’s move into paid AI was inevitable—but its $72B investment shows Zuckerberg is all-in. The key will be differentiation:

✔ If Meta AI leverages its social data (e.g., personalized recommendations), it could win.
✖ If it’s just another chatbot, users may ignore it.

Your Turn: Would you pay for Meta AI Pro, or stick with ChatGPT/Gemini? Comment below!

Social Tech

Meta is terminating workers at Reality Labs

by George Mensah 2025-04-26

Meta has confirmed another round of layoffs, this time targeting its Reality Labs division, though the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. This move comes as part of the company’s ongoing “Year of Efficiency” initiative that began in 2023, which has already seen Meta reduce its workforce by about 22% across multiple waves of cuts.

Areas Most Affected by the Cuts

The restructuring has particularly impacted:

Oculus Studios teams developing games for Quest VR headsets
Hardware development groups working on future VR/AR devices
Supernatural, Meta’s flagship VR fitness platform acquired for $400 million in 2021

A message posted to the official Supernatural Facebook group suggests these changes aim to “help us work more efficiently on what the future of fitness could be,” indicating possible strategic redirection rather than complete abandonment of the fitness vertical.

Behind Meta’s Reality Labs Restructuring

Mixed Signals in Meta’s VR Strategy

Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton explained the changes reflect structural shifts meant to improve efficiency in developing “future mixed reality experiences.” This carefully worded statement suggests:

A continued commitment to VR/AR development
Potential reallocation of resources toward more promising projects
Possible deprioritization of certain existing VR content

The Broader Context of Meta’s VR Challenges

These layoffs occur against a backdrop of:

Disappointing Quest headset sales, with the Quest 3S already seeing price cuts
Strong performance of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, exceeding expectations
Ongoing financial losses in Reality Labs, which reported $3.8 billion in operating losses in Q1 2024 alone

Analyzing the Implications

What This Means for the VR Industry

Content Development Slowdown: Fewer resources for Oculus Studios may mean fewer first-party VR titles
Strategic Reprioritization: Meta appears to be shifting focus from pure VR toward mixed reality
Hardware Uncertainty: Layoffs in hardware teams raise questions about future device roadmaps

The Supernatural Paradox

The treatment of Supernatural is particularly noteworthy:

Legal Victory: Meta successfully defended its acquisition against antitrust challenges
High Investment: The $400 million purchase was one of Meta’s largest VR content acquisitions
Current Downsizing: Despite this, the team is now facing cuts

Expert Perspectives on Meta’s Moves

Industry analysts suggest several interpretations:

Cost-Cutting Measure: Part of Zuckerberg’s efficiency drive amid massive Reality Labs losses
Strategic Pivot: Possibly reallocating resources toward AI integration in VR/AR
Market Realignment: Responding to slower-than-expected VR adoption rates

The Road Ahead for Meta’s Metaverse Vision

While these cuts might suggest wavering commitment, Meta maintains it’s still investing heavily in mixed reality. Key questions remain:

Will these efficiency moves accelerate profitability in Reality Labs?
How will content quality be affected by reduced development teams?
Does this signal a broader shift in Meta’s metaverse strategy?

One thing is clear: Meta continues to balance its ambitious long-term VR/AR goals with the financial realities of running a public company. These layoffs represent another adjustment in that delicate balancing act rather than a wholesale retreat from the metaverse vision.

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