It seems Elon Musk’s X is once again taking a page out of a rival’s playbook. The social network is preparing to launch “Starterpacks”, curated lists designed to help users discover accounts that match their interests, a concept that looks remarkably similar to Bluesky’s widely praised “Starter Packs.”
Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, announced the feature on Wednesday, explaining that the company has spent months “scouring the world for the top posters in every niche and country” to compile its lists. These packs, he added, will roll out to all users in the coming weeks.
From News and Politics to Gaming, Fashion, Memes, and beyond, the Starterpacks aim to make X a little easier to navigate for those who might feel lost in its chaotic feeds.
But while Bluesky’s version lets anyone create and share their own curated lists, X’s approach is decidedly more top-down. The lists were compiled internally using the company’s own data, not user recommendations.
A familiar feature with a Musk-era twist
For long-time social media users, Starterpacks might sound like a blast from the past. X (then Twitter) actually pioneered the idea of suggested user lists back in its early days, when it encouraged people to follow interesting voices instead of just their friends, a contrast to Facebook’s social model.
Those lists became somewhat legendary and controversial. Being featured on Twitter’s “Suggested Users List” often catapulted accounts into instant stardom, creating a mini-celebrity ecosystem on the platform.
Now that Musk is steering the ship, X’s version seems to blend nostalgia with strategy. By handpicking what it calls “top posters,” X appears to be reviving the spirit of those early curated lists, though with a modern, global twist.
The company clearly hopes that these Starterpacks will make user onboarding smoother and encourage new sign-ups to stay engaged longer.
Following in familiar footsteps
Of course, X isn’t the only platform inspired by Bluesky’s viral idea. Meta’s Threads began testing its own version of Starter Packs in late 2024, giving new users curated lists of recommended accounts upon joining.
Bluesky’s approach, however, remains the most open.
Anyone on the platform can create a Starter Pack and share it, from journalists compiling tech experts to meme aficionados rounding up their favourite posters. This user-led discovery system has become one of Bluesky’s defining features, helping it stand out in a crowded social media landscape.
By contrast, X’s version seems less community-driven and more editorial. Still, it fits neatly into Musk’s ongoing effort to keep users on the app longer and make it feel livelier amid competition from Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon.
Whether users will embrace these curated lists or dismiss them as another recycled idea remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: the social media giants are once again racing to reinvent the same old wheel, and this time, it’s a Starterpack-shaped one.
