Government censorship, scam accounts, celebrity impersonation, propaganda and a user revolt over a journalist accused of demonizing trans people — these are just some of the hurdles faced by the nascent social media platform Bluesky. But they’re also signs of its rapid growth since the election.

As Bluesky attracts more activity, particularly from those fleeing Elon Musk’s X, it is facing the price of success: tough moderation decisions and a growing number of bad actors.

Nearly 25 million people have signed up for the platform, according to metrics site ClearSky. While that number is still a fraction of X’s user base, Bluesky’s controversies and challenges are gaining mainstream attention — a sign of its increasing cultural relevance.