Taylor Swift fans leave X and head to Bluesky after Trump’s election.

Following the U.S. presidential elections, Taylor Swift's fans, known as Swifties, have begun to leave X in favor of Bluesky. This migration occurs in a context where Elon Musk, owner of X and a major supporter of Donald Trump, has channeled over $100 million towards the PAC America that backs the former president, in addition to encouraging the campaign and amplifying Trump’s message on the platform. This has led the Swiftie community, which has developed a strong presence on what was once Twitter, to reevaluate their place in the digital landscape.

Less than 48 hours after Trump's electoral victory, many began to leave the platform. “I love the idea of building a new community here and not wanting to support Elon in any way,” said Justin, who uses the username @justin-the-baron.swifties.social on Bluesky. Loyalty to Taylor Swift's values and her community stands in stark contrast to Musk’s public support for the former president.

Although there are Swifties across various political spectrums, the community is characterized by being a positive and welcoming space. Following Kamala Harris’s announcement as the Democratic presidential candidate, Swift’s followers mobilized to support her, culminating in Swift's endorsement of Harris, pointing out AI-generated images that Trump used to suggest support that did not actually exist.

Musk has responded to these dynamics with dismissive comments, one of which mentions, “Enough, Taylor… you win… I’ll give you a child and take care of your cats with my life.” The controversy and hostile environment on X have led Swifties like Irene Kim to leave the platform. According to Kim, the rise of misogyny after the election has driven many to seek refuge on Bluesky, especially after the rhetoric of hate and misinformation intensified significantly since Musk took control of X.

A report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue showed that extremist phrases increased dramatically, noting that the day after Trump's election, some expressions of hate skyrocketed by 4,600%. This led Kim to seek a more positive experience on Bluesky, where she has found a friendlier, community-focused atmosphere.

Justin, who has been on Bluesky for over a year, mentions that the environment on X became overwhelming after the election. However, on Bluesky, he feels safer and more supported. “Bluesky feels like a social network again, where the connection with the community is more genuine,” commented Kim. In the last 48 hours, nearly 200 Swift-themed starter packs have been created on Bluesky, almost all of them in this short period of time.

If this translates into a massive migration of Swifties, Justin believes it would be a significant triumph.