X introduces a ‘Starterpacks’ feature inspired by Bluesky, making it easier to discover new accounts to follow

X Introduces “Starterpacks” Inspired by Bluesky

Bluesky’s “Starter Packs”—carefully assembled lists of recommended accounts—have quickly become a favorite tool for helping new users build connections on the platform. Their popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed, as X is now preparing to launch a similar feature.

On Wednesday, Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, revealed that the Elon Musk-led platform will soon debut its own take on these curated lists, dubbed “Starterpacks.”

The goal of this new addition is to make it easier for users to discover accounts that align with their interests, spanning topics such as News, Politics, Fashion, Technology, Business & Finance, Health & Fitness, Gaming, Stocks, Memes, and more.

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Unlike Bluesky, where anyone can create and share their own Starter Packs, X’s lists are being developed internally by the company.

According to Bier’s announcement on X, the team has spent recent months searching globally for standout contributors in every niche and region to assemble these lists. This means X’s Starterpacks are built using the company’s own data, rather than user-generated recommendations.

Bier mentioned that Starterpacks will become available to all X users in the coming weeks.

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The Evolution of Suggested User Lists

Recommending accounts to follow isn’t a new concept for X. Since its early days as Twitter, the platform has offered lists of suggested users to help people find voices that match their interests, rather than just connecting with friends as on Facebook. These lists were designed to help users discover like-minded individuals and jumpstart their experience on the platform.

However, the original suggested user lists sparked debate, as being featured could dramatically increase a user’s follower count and influence. This led to criticism over fairness, prompting Twitter in 2010 to shift from editorially curated lists to algorithm-driven recommendations.

Bluesky’s Influence on Social Platforms

X isn’t the only platform to take inspiration from Bluesky’s Starter Packs. In December 2024, Meta’s Threads began experimenting with its own version—user-created collections of recommended accounts shown to new sign-ups and within the For You feed. Meanwhile, the decentralized network Mastodon is also developing “Packs” to assist new users in getting started.