Bluesky, an emerging social media platform that is gaining traction among celebrities and influencers, is facing increased concerns over impersonation and identity verification. The platform has stepped up its efforts to address these issues due to the surge of new users.

Strengthened Impersonation Policies

On Friday, Bluesky’s Safety team announced a more stringent impersonation policy, stating that impersonation and handle-squatting accounts will be removed.

In order to back these changes, the company has significantly expanded its moderation team, which is now four times larger than before. Bluesky acknowledges a rapidly growing backlog of moderation reports as a result of the platform’s rapid growth, despite this.

Confusion has been caused by the lack of a straightforward verification system. Users frequently inquire whether certain accounts are genuine or parodies, and often receive unclear answers. A few users have started making their own verification lists and unofficial badges to identify genuine profiles.

Current Verification Mechanisms

Bluesky’s verification process is based on domain-based signals, unlike platforms like Twitter (now X), which offer verification badges. For example, accounts with the ‘bsky.team’ domain in their handles indicate affiliation with Bluesky. To enhance credibility, the platform is working to assist organizations and high-profile users in establishing verified domain handles.

Parody and fan accounts are permitted under Bluesky’s guidelines, but they must clearly indicate their unofficial status in both display names and bios. The platform bans the practice of ‘identity churning’, which involves users creating impersonation accounts to gain followers and then switching identities. The removal of such accounts is possible.

Future Of Verifications

Bluesky CEO Jay Graber has indicated that there are broader plans for account verification, which may allow external apps or organizations to create their own verification processes. Graber mentioned that users had the option to choose between trusting Bluesky’s verification or relying on third-party entities.

The Bluesky Safety team acknowledged user feedback and stressed their dedication to exploring additional verification methods beyond domain handles. “We hope to share more shortly,” the team stated, acknowledging the demand for robust and transparent verification tools.

Addressing Growing Pains

Bluesky must maintain trust and authenticity as it expands and attracts high-profile users. Despite the recent updates indicating progress, the effectiveness of these measures will be determined by Bluesky’s ability to adapt and innovate in its approach to identity verification.

The platform’s users and the Safety team are continuing their work to create a more secure and reliable social media experience.