Bluesky Reaches 40M Users, Launches ‘Dislikes’ Beta
- Social network Bluesky, recently surpassing 40 million users, will begin testing "dislikes" to refine content personalization.
- bluesky is introducing a beta test for a "dislike" feature. Unlike conventional "likes," dislikes won't be publicly displayed. Instead, they will serve as a private signal to the...
- bluesky's approach to personalization differs from many mainstream social networks.
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Bluesky to Test “Dislikes” to Enhance Personalization, Improve Conversation Control
Table of Contents
Social network Bluesky, recently surpassing 40 million users, will begin testing “dislikes” to refine content personalization. This update is part of a broader effort to foster a healthier and more user-controlled social media environment.
What’s Happening?
bluesky is introducing a beta test for a “dislike” feature. Unlike conventional “likes,” dislikes won’t be publicly displayed. Instead, they will serve as a private signal to the platform’s algorithms, informing content ranking in both the main Discover feed and reply rankings. This is coupled with a suite of other updates focused on conversation control and reducing exposure to unwanted content.
Why does This Matter?
bluesky’s approach to personalization differs from many mainstream social networks. By prioritizing user-defined preferences through dislikes,Bluesky aims to give users more agency over their experience. This is especially relevant given recent criticism regarding moderation and calls for the platform to take a more active role in banning users.Bluesky, however, is doubling down on empowering users to curate their own feeds.
Key Updates & Features
- Dislikes (Beta): Private signals to improve content ranking.
- Improved Reply Ranking: Dislikes will also influence the order of replies, prioritizing more relevant conversations.
- Toxic Comment Detection: Enhanced systems to identify and mitigate harmful content.
- Moderation Lists: Tools allowing users to quickly block groups of individuals.
- Conversation Control: A broader focus on features that allow users to tailor their experience.
Bluesky’s philosophy: User Control vs. Platform Moderation
Bluesky operates as a decentralized network,meaning users have more control over their individual experiences and moderation. Though, this has led to internal debate. Some users advocate for the platform itself to ban controversial figures,as seen in the Jesse Singal petition. Bluesky’s response has been to focus on providing tools for users to manage their own feeds and block unwanted content, rather than acting as a central authority on moderation.
Timeline of recent Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 13, 2024 | Petition to ban Jesse Singal gains traction, highlighting tensions over platform moderation. |
| October 5, 2025 | Users criticize bluesky’s moderation decisions, leading to the “Waffles Eat Bluesky” movement. |
| October 31, 2025 | Bluesky announces new conversation control updates and the upcoming “dislikes” beta test. |