How to easily fly away from X to Bluesky without losing your flock - for now

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It's no secret that X (formerly Twitter) has been in flux since Elon Musk took over the company. The platform has undergone a series of controversial changes, alienating users with each new decision. The most recent privacy shift, which allows blocked users to view your posts (though they can't engage with you directly), has sent many of X's most loyal users scrambling for the exits.

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This change to the block feature is the final straw for many, myself included. Blocking was crucial to maintaining privacy and control over our social presence. By allowing blocked users to view content, X has taken a major step backward regarding user safety. While I've switched my X account to protected mode, even that feels like a temporary patch rather than a solution.

What's next? For a growing number of people, the answer is simple: leave X behind and embrace a platform that still respects user autonomy and privacy. Platforms like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads are emerging as viable alternatives. Bluesky, in particular, has seen an explosive rise in popularity, with nearly 2 million signups a week after X announced its latest policy changes.

Enter Sky Follower Bridge

If you've decided, like many others, that it's time to leave X behind, you don't have to leave your entire social circle. That's where the Sky Follower Bridge extension comes in handy. This tool allows you to migrate your followers, followings, and even your block list from X to Bluesky, making the transition relatively seamless.

While the tool works well for now, it's important to note that it uses a form of screen scraping to pull data from X. Historically, X has taken measures to block tools like this -- just as we've seen with similar tools designed to help users migrate to Mastodon. X will likely take steps to block Sky Follower Bridge in the future, so if you're considering the switch, it may be wise to act sooner rather than later.

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For now, Sky Follower Bridge offers a reliable way to make the leap.

How to install Sky Follower Bridge

Installing and using Sky Follower Bridge is straightforward. Here's how to get started:

Install the extension

Sky Follower Bridge is available for both Chrome and Microsoft Edge users:

For Chrome: Head over to the Chrome Web Store and install the extension.For Edge: Visit the Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store and add the extension to your browser. Jason Perlow/ZDNET

After installing the extension, it should appear in your toolbar. However, some users may need to go into "Manage Extensions" and toggle "Pin to toolbar" to make it more accessible.

Generate a Bluesky App Password

To use Sky Follower Bridge, you'll need to create an app-specific password for your Bluesky account. Log in to Bluesky and navigate to App Passwords to generate one.

How to use Sky Follower Bridge

Once you've got the extension installed and your Bluesky app password ready, here's how to migrate your social connections from X:

Open the relevant X pages for followers/followings/blocks

The URLs for your followers and followings are tied to your specific X profile name. For example, if your handle is @jperlow, your URLs would look like this:

Followers: https://twitter.com/jperlow/followersFollowings: https://twitter.com/jperlow/followingBlock List: https://twitter.com/settings/blocked/allVerified Followers: https://twitter.com/jperlow/lists/verified_followers

Launch Sky Follower Bridge

You can either use the keyboard shortcut "Alt + B" or click the toolbar icon to launch the extension.

Input your Bluesky login details

Enter your Bluesky login email and the app password you generated earlier.

Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Start migration

Click the "Finding Bluesky Users" button to search for your contacts on Bluesky. Once the tool finds them, click "Follow" (or Unfollow or Block) next to their names to follow them on Bluesky. You'll want to do this for the Verified Follows, Follows, and Blocks.

Jason Perlow/ZDNET

Potential issues and future challenges

Like any migration tool, Sky Follower Bridge isn't perfect. You may encounter Bluesky API rate limits, in which case you'll need to wait a few minutes before retrying. There's also the potential for X to block this tool's functionality in the future. As mentioned, X has a history of clamping down on screen-scraping tools like this, especially as users seek to leave the platform en masse.

If you run into problems, Kawamata Ryo, the extension developer (@kawamataryo.bsky.social), is available on Bluesky to provide support.

The future of social media migration

As X continues to lose ground with users due to its increasingly unpopular decisions, tools like Sky Follower Bridge offer a lifeline for those looking to maintain their online presence elsewhere. Bluesky's decentralized model, customizable feeds, and user-first approach make it an appealing alternative for many.

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However, if you're thinking of making the switch, be aware that tools like this may not be around forever. If X takes further steps to block migration tools, the window for easy transitions could close. For now, though, Sky Follower Bridge is your best bet for migrating followers from X to Bluesky without losing touch with your community.