Comparative analysis of political communications in decentralized social net works using the example of Bluesky & X (formerly Twitter)

Abstract

This article presents a comparative analysis of political communication in centralized and decentralized social networks, using X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky as case studies. It examines key differences in platform architecture and their impact on content moderation, freedom of speech, user engagement, and political polarization. The author explores how decentralization enhances user autonomy and reduces censorship risks while also increasing discourse fragmentation. The study includes a content analysis of 600 political posts from both platforms, revealing differences in discussion patterns and interaction structures. The findings indicate that X maintains a high level of mass engagement, whereas BlueSky fosters more theoretically diverse but less widely disseminated political content. The paper discusses the future prospects of decentralized social networks and their role in shaping a new digital public sphere.