X’s Starterpacks: Copying Bluesky to Fix Onboarding Woes

In a move signaling intensifying competition among social platforms, X is preparing to launch ‘Starterpacks,’ curated lists of accounts designed to accelerate user onboarding by matching newcomers with niche interests. Announced by X’s head of product Nikita Bier, the feature draws direct inspiration from Bluesky’s popular starter packs, aiming to boost retention amid ongoing struggles to engage new and lapsed users.

Bier revealed the initiative in a post on X , stating that his team ‘scoured the world for the top posters in every niche & country’ to compile these packs. Examples highlighted include categories like Bitcoin, crypto influencers, technology, and business, with rollout to all users expected in the coming weeks. This positions Starterpacks as a targeted response to X’s historical challenges in surfacing relevant content quickly.

Bluesky’s Proven Playbook

Bluesky introduced starter packs in June 2024 as ‘personalized invites that bring friends directly into your slice of Bluesky,’ according to the platform’s official blog post . These user-generated bundles of accounts and feeds quickly became a hit, helping the decentralized network grow to millions of users by easing discovery in its feed-based system.

X’s version, internally tested before broader release, mirrors this by offering pre-vetted follows for topics from memes to global regions. Engadget reports that the feature will help ‘new users find the best accounts—big or small—for their interests,’ citing Bier’s announcement, with full details here .

Onboarding’s Persistent Hurdle

X has long grappled with low retention for new sign-ups, a problem Bier addressed prior to his role. In an earlier exchange, he noted that traditional ‘Who to Follow’ suggestions failed because ‘the algorithm can’t provide good suggestions until it has some signal — and follows is a great starting point,’ responding to user feedback on X.

Social Media Today confirms X’s Starterpacks function as ‘topic-based follow lists,’ curated by the platform itself and set for imminent rollout, building on Bluesky’s model to combat drop-off rates, as detailed in their coverage .

Crypto and Niche Focus

Early packs emphasize high-engagement areas like cryptocurrency, with Cointelegraph reporting that X will roll out ‘Starterpacks featuring Bitcoin and crypto’s top posters,’ enabling instant follows for newcomers. TradingView News echoes this, noting the feature’s role in simplifying entry for interest-specific audiences.

Bier’s post solicited topic suggestions, drawing replies for additions like ‘niche meme accounts,’ highlighting community input in refinement. Coinpaper adds that packs cover technology and business, positioning X to capture specialized communities amid broader platform wars.

Industry Echoes and Reactions

The launch has sparked mixed responses on X. User Oliver Alexander posted, ‘They could have at least called it something else. Starter packs are one of the genuinely great features that were introduced on Bluesky and they are also a good idea on here,’ in a thread acknowledging the borrow while praising its utility.

Luke Metro commented in a post , amplifying Bier’s reveal and underscoring the feature’s potential. Dataconomy reports internal testing showed Starterpacks aiding discovery of ‘niche accounts,’ with X’s product lead emphasizing their fit for ‘new and resurrected users.’

Retention Data and Strategic Implications

Bier claimed Starterpacks deliver ‘nearly double retention and time spent,’ contrasting with prior tools’ poor performance. This metric, shared in replies, underscores X’s data-driven pivot under new leadership, aiming to reverse years of stagnant growth.

TechCrunch noted Bluesky’s evolution of starter packs into pinnable lists, a path X might follow. Startup News FYI frames it as X ‘copying Bluesky with a ‘Starterpacks’ feature that helps you find who to follow,’ reflecting broader imitation trends seen in Threads’ recent list tests.

Rolling Out Amid Platform Rivalries

With Bluesky’s packs now integral to its directory via Bluesky Directory, X’s adoption arrives as Threads experiments with custom follow lists, per Social Media Today. This convergence suggests a maturing playbook for social discovery, where curated entry points define user stickiness.

X’s timeline aligns with recent updates like expanded Articles for Premium users, part of Bier’s aggressive January push. As rollout nears, industry watchers anticipate impact on X’s daily active users, long a benchmark lagging rivals.

Future Iterations and User Control

While initially platform-curated, posts indicate potential for user-generated packs, akin to Bluesky’s model. Bier’s engagement with suggestions points to iterative expansion, possibly integrating with X Lists for deeper personalization.

Yahoo News Singapore reiterates the ‘Bluesky-like’ branding, signaling X’s overt benchmarking. For insiders, Starterpacks represent not just a feature but a bet on interest graphing to reclaim mindshare in a crowded field.