Navigating the Identity Maze: Bluesky Tackles Impersonation Concerns
A Growing Pain for a Rising Star
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As Bluesky continues its meteoric rise, attracting a growing number of celebrities and influencers, concerns about impersonation are coming to the forefront. With over 20 million users, Bluesky’s rapid growth has brought new challenges, prompting the platform to take decisive action against fake accounts. This surge in popularity mirrors the trajectory of other social media platforms like TikTok, which also faced similar issues as it gained traction.
Strengthening the Guardrails: A More Aggressive Approach
The Bluesky Safety team recently announced a more aggressive stance on impersonation. In a public post, they stated that the company will be removing accounts engaged in impersonation and handle-squatting. This move comes alongside a quadrupling of the moderation team, aiming to expedite the handling of impersonation reports. Despite these efforts, a backlog persists due to the influx of new users, highlighting the need for continuous improvement and adaptation as the platform evolves.
The Verification Conundrum: A Lack of Clear Signals
Unlike platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which utilize paid subscriptions for verification, Bluesky currently lacks a standardized badge system. This absence has led to confusion among users, with many questioning the authenticity of accounts. Anecdotally, posts inquiring about real versus parody accounts are becoming increasingly common, highlighting the need for clearer identity indicators. This lack of clear verification can be compared to the early days of the internet, where trust was built through reputation and word-of-mouth rather than formal badges or systems.
Bluesky relies on other signals, such as verified domains in user handles, to denote trustworthiness. For instance, an account with a “bsky.team” domain is likely affiliated with Bluesky itself. The platform also acknowledges this challenge and states they are actively working with organizations and high-profile individuals to establish verified domain handles. This collaborative approach aims to build a more robust and transparent verification system over time.
Bluesky clarifies that parodies and fan accounts are permitted, but they must clearly identify themselves in both their display name and bio. This transparency helps users distinguish between official and unofficial accounts. Furthermore, the platform prohibits “identity churning,” where users create impersonation accounts solely for follower gain and then switch to different identities to evade detection. Such accounts will be removed.
Looking Ahead: A Multifaceted Approach to Verification
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber has hinted at future developments regarding account verification, suggesting a potential system that allows other apps or organizations to provide their own verification badges. This multi-layered approach could empower users to choose the level of trust they place in different verification methods. Graber’s vision emphasizes user agency and flexibility in navigating the verification landscape.
The Bluesky Safety team echoes this sentiment, stating that they are actively exploring additional options to enhance account verification beyond domain verification. They aim to provide users with more robust tools for verifying identities and building trust within the community.
