Bluesky is growing fast, drawing in celebrities and influencers, but with that comes the challenge of impersonation. As a response, the platform has ramped up its impersonation policy. As per Bluesky Safety's new post, accounts that squat on handles or impersonate others will be removed. Bluesky also quadrupled its moderation team, aiming to speed up response times, though a backlog remains due to an influx of new users.
The issue is growing. Users are starting to ask: Is this account real or just a parody? In the absence of the typical verified badge, Bluesky uses other signals, such as the “bsky.team” domain, to confirm identity. They’re also helping well-known individuals and organizations set up verified domain handles to make it easier to trust the account’s legitimacy.
Fan accounts and parodies are still allowed but must be clearly marked. If someone creates an account for the sole purpose of impersonating, Bluesky will remove it if the identity is later changed. They’re also working on ways to let other apps or organizations verify accounts independently.
CEO Jay Graber hinted that more options could be on the way for verification, beyond just domain-based methods. They’ve heard the feedback: users want more ways to prove their identity. Bluesky says they’re exploring additional solutions to enhance the process.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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The issue is growing. Users are starting to ask: Is this account real or just a parody? In the absence of the typical verified badge, Bluesky uses other signals, such as the “bsky.team” domain, to confirm identity. They’re also helping well-known individuals and organizations set up verified domain handles to make it easier to trust the account’s legitimacy.
Fan accounts and parodies are still allowed but must be clearly marked. If someone creates an account for the sole purpose of impersonating, Bluesky will remove it if the identity is later changed. They’re also working on ways to let other apps or organizations verify accounts independently.
CEO Jay Graber hinted that more options could be on the way for verification, beyond just domain-based methods. They’ve heard the feedback: users want more ways to prove their identity. Bluesky says they’re exploring additional solutions to enhance the process.
Read next: Elon Musk Challenges OpenAI’s Transformation, Claims Misalignment with Nonprofit Mission and Ethics
