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In a large 2025 analysis of Bluesky posts linking to scholarly articles, posts drew more interaction and showed greater textual originality than results previously reported for X. That is evidence of a difference in the samples studied—not proof that every science post or communicator will do better on Bluesky. A separate, peer-reviewed 2026 study found that Bluesky science posts tended to be longer and more technically complex, while X posts were easier to read and addressed readers more directly.
What the engagement finding measures
Er-Te Zheng, Xiaorui Jiang, Zhichao Fang, and Mike Thelwall analyzed more than 2.6 million Bluesky posts referencing 532,302 scholarly articles from January 2023 through July 2025, using article metadata from OpenAlex. Their 2025 preprint reports higher levels of likes, reposts, replies, and quote posts, as well as greater textual originality, than previously reported for X. The comparison draws on earlier X reporting; it was not a controlled, same-period experiment on both platforms. Read the preprint.
The Guardian’s report on the study said almost half of the scientific posts received at least 10 likes, one third were reposted at least 10 times, and 6.3% simply mentioned the article name and journal. Those figures describe the study as reported by The Guardian; they are not a randomized Bluesky-versus-X comparison. The Guardian’s account quoted co-author Zheng saying scholarly posts on Bluesky were “not only more original but also receive stronger engagement than on X.”
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How science posts differ in style
A peer-reviewed 2026 study by Religa and colleagues compared English-language posts containing the word “science” over a matched observation window: 8,697 Bluesky posts and 348,900 X posts. It found a different profile on each platform, rather than a single measure of which one is better. Read the Frontiers study.
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| Measure | Bluesky | X |
|---|---|---|
| Average words per post | 30.6 | 28.7 |
| Complex-word density | 0.108 | 0.092 |
| Aggregate technical score | 0.0436 | 0.0382 |
| Flesch–Kincaid grade level | 10.02 | 9.07 |
| Second-person pronoun use | 0.0093 | 0.0153 |
| Posts referencing multiple disciplines | 13.8% | 17.8% |
In this sample, Bluesky posts were longer and more complex by several measures. X posts were easier to read and used “you” and related second-person pronouns more often. The authors interpret the pattern as consistent with more peer-oriented discussion on Bluesky and more audience-oriented dissemination on X. They did not directly measure who made up either platform’s audience, so the style results do not establish audience composition.
Which scientific fields appeared in the 2026 sample?
The study also assigned posts to scientific fields. These figures are shares of field assignments, not percentages of all posts on each platform.
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| Field assignment | Bluesky | X |
|---|---|---|
| Health and medicine | 23.9% | 19.2% |
| Climate and environment | 12.2% | 8.7% |
| Mathematics and statistics | 4.1% | 9.6% |
These differences may matter if your work is concentrated in one of those areas, but they do not tell an individual researcher what reach or response to expect. The study authors note that Bluesky’s development stage and a self-selected research community there may influence the observed pattern.
What the studies cannot establish
- The 2025 analysis focuses on Bluesky posts that reference scholarly articles. Its comparison with earlier X results may not reflect a direct, like-for-like measurement across platforms and time.
- The 2026 analysis searched English-language posts containing “science.” It may miss specialized research discussion that does not use that word, as well as science posts in other languages.
- Neither sample is a complete census of science communication on either service. Many science posts do not cite a paper, and many research discussions may not use the search term.
- Observed differences do not prove that platform design caused them. The kinds of users posting, topics discussed, and platforms’ different stages of development may also contribute.
How to apply the findings to your own science posts
Choose a platform based on the goal and audience of a particular post, rather than treating the studies as a universal ranking. Consider:
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- Desired interaction: Decide whether likes, reposts, replies, or quotes matter most. The 2025 study reports higher interaction overall in its comparison, but does not guarantee a particular result for your account.
- Writing style: Bluesky’s sample leaned toward longer, more complex posts; X’s was easier to read and more directly addressed readers. Match the post’s technical detail to the readers you want to reach.
- Discipline: The field-assignment mix differed in the 2026 sample. Use it as context, not as a forecast of your own post’s visibility.
- Discovery and audience size: The cited studies do not establish which platform will expose a specific communicator to more of the right people. Consider your existing audience and how readers are likely to find the post.
- Fit to the evidence: A post discussing a particular paper resembles the 2025 sample more closely than a general science explainer. A post that uses the word “science” resembles the 2026 retrieval method more closely than one that does not.
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