Bluesky Tackles Impersonation Issues as User Base Surges

Bluesky, a fast-growing social media service, has gained over 20 million users as many celebrities and influencers join the platform. However, this growth has led to increased concerns about impersonation and the verification of user identities.

In response, the Bluesky Safety team announced changes to its impersonation policy, stating it will take a more aggressive stance against impersonation and accounts that mimic official handles. The updates promise quicker actions on impersonation reports due to a fourfold increase in the moderation team, despite a significant backlog stemming from the influx of new users.

Many users have expressed confusion about whether certain accounts are genuine or parody. To address this, some have begun creating lists of verified accounts. Unlike Twitter, Bluesky does not have a verified user badge; it relies on other indicators, like verified domains in user handles, to establish trust.

Bluesky is working with organizations and prominent figures to set up verified domain handles. The platform allows parody and fan accounts, provided they clearly label themselves in their display names and bios. Accounts created solely for impersonation to gain followers will be removed if they change identity.

Bluesky’s CEO, Jay Graber, hinted at future efforts to enhance account verification. The platform is considering options beyond domain verification based on user feedback and plans to share new developments soon.