Digital Dose: TikTok’s Uncertain Future, Bluesky’s Rise and Building Trust in Science

Welcome to your dose of trending news from the digital universe, courtesy of the Spectrum Science Innovation Team. 

In this edition of Digital Dose, we’re diving into TikTok’s second ban extension, Bluesky’s potential for the research community and how scientific communicators can build trust with the public.

Trump Delayed the US TikTok Ban Again. What’s Next? 

For the second time, President Trump extended the deadline for the Chinese organization ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company – this time for 75 days making the new deadline June 19. Read More. 

Why it matters: It appears that Trump is eager to find a deal to keep the video platform operating in the United States, and American users are anxiously waiting to understand what’s happening in the conversations currently being held between ByteDance and the administration. With TikTok’s future unclear, we continue to advise our clients to prioritize agility when it comes to social media strategies – including influencer work. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but it’s important to know where target audiences are shifting to consume vertical video content such as Instagram and Facebook Reels and YouTube Shorts. That way, any potential TikTok ban won’t derail your strategy. 

X’s dominance ‘over’ as Bluesky becomes new hub for research 

Recent data shows that Bluesky is hosting more posts related to new academic research than X (previously Twitter), which indicates that the platform is quickly becoming the go-to place for scholars to share their work. Read More. 

Why it matters: While X has a larger volume of research posts overall, it looks like the days of X being the dominant platform for the scholarly community may be coming to an end. This past March, Bluesky saw more research posts published on the platform than X, confirming that academic users are migrating to the “X alternative.” In the always-shifting social media landscape, we’re encouraging our clients to prioritize channels their target audiences use and explore the potential of Bluesky if it’s a good strategic fit.   

9 Ways to Build Trust in Science 

How do you build trust in science? Discover 9 powerful strategies—from listening to truly understand, to sharing personal stories and engaging communities—that can transform your approach to science communication. Read More. 

Why it matters: Building trust in science is crucial for advancing meaningful progress, especially in industries like healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals. For our clients, effective science communication helps bridge gaps with stakeholders, improve public perception, and drive informed decision-making. By adopting these strategies, businesses can foster transparency, engage communities more deeply, and strengthen their credibility—critical elements when navigating complex regulatory landscapes or introducing innovative solutions.  

Interested in more? Don’t miss these additional digital headlines: 

• Bluesky’s Quest to Build Nontoxic Social Media [The New Yorker] 

• Instagram Tests Lockable Posts to Enhance Engagement [Social Media Today] 

• Google Is Selling Ad Space in Roblox via Immersive Ads [Social Media Today] 

• Why Agility Matters for Innovators in Uncertain Times [Spectrum Science Perspective] 

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