Bluesky is rolling out a major platform update, directly addressing user feedback and enhancing core functionalities. The update, version 1.96, introduces a dedicated “Mentions” tab for more efficient notifications, implements robust protections against username squatting, and offers refined controls for sorting replies.
The changes, implemented yesterday, underscore Bluesky’s focus on improving user experience and security amidst rapid growth, and follow recent challenges that include controversies over moderation and the exploration of a paid subscription model.
Users will immediately notice the new “Mentions” tab within the notifications section. Previously, all notifications—replies, likes, and follows—were grouped together. The dedicated tab allows for quick and efficient tracking of conversations where users are directly tagged. Users can now stay updated with replies and conversations in which they are tagged.
📢 App Version 1.96 is rolling out now (1/6) In this release: a notifications Mentions tab, reserving your default username when you verify your account with a domain, and other improvements!
— Bluesky (@bsky.app) December 19, 2024 at 10:54 PM
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Tackling Username Squatting Head-On
Enhanced username security is a major focus of the update, a direct response to recent incidents of impersonation and attempted extortion. Bluesky is implementing a system to safeguard user identities.
“We are taking measures to ensure account authenticity,” a Bluesky spokesperson emphasized. Now, when a user changes their username from the default .bsky.social to a custom domain, their most recent Bluesky username will be reserved, preventing others from claiming it.
The platform’s recent struggles with its domain-handle feature brought the need for stronger security measures to light. As reported by Markus Kasanmascheff on December 18, 2024, scammers were exploiting this feature—which allows users to connect profiles to custom domains for verification—to extort and impersonate users.
High-profile incidents involving Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen and entrepreneur Sam Parr, who were targeted through methods like sockpuppet tactics, exposed vulnerabilities in Bluesky’s decentralized moderation, which uses tools like Ozone for collaborative labeling and Safer by Thorn for detecting harmful content.
Refined Reply Management
Bluesky is also introducing more granular options for managing replies. Users can now choose between a “Linear” view, displaying replies chronologically, and a “Threaded” view, organizing replies hierarchically to mirror conversation flow. “The ‘Linear’ option displays replies in sequence, while the ‘Threaded’ option indents replies within a conversation for better clarity,” the Bluesky announcement stated.
📢 1.96 is rolling out now (4/6) You can now quickly change how replies are shown to you — with the settings button in post threads.
— Bluesky (@bsky.app) December 19, 2024 at 10:54 PM
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These options build upon previous updates that introduced sorting based on “oldest,” “newest,” and “most-liked.” Bluesky had also experimented last month with a “hotness” sorting algorithm, prioritizing replies with recent likes. While that algorithm sparked debate among users concerned about its alignment with the platform’s decentralized ethos, the new options provide a broader range of customization.
The updates are facilitated by Bluesky’s unique architecture, built on the Authenticated Transfer Protocol (AT Protocol). The AT Protocol is a decentralized social networking technology, separating user data from the application to give users more control and enable portability between different platforms built on the protocol.
Central to this are Personal Data Servers (PDSs), servers where users’ data is stored. Users can choose their PDS or even host their own, offering a level of data ownership uncommon in traditional social media.
Growth, Monetization, and Regulation
Bluesky continues to expand language support, adding Nepali, Khmer, and Romanian, reflecting its growing global reach. With over 25 million users, including notable figures like US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and actors Mark Hamill and George Takei, for example, Bluesky faces increasing pressure to scale while maintaining its core values.
The platform’s rapid user increase recently brought financial considerations to the forefront. Reports originating from a GitHub post on December 10 suggest that Bluesky is exploring a paid subscription model, tentatively named “Bluesky+.”
Mockups indicate potential premium features like high-quality video uploads and advanced profile customization. While details remain unconfirmed, COO Rose Wang previously assured users in October that the platform remains committed to equity, stating, “Paid subscribers won’t get special treatment elsewhere in the app, like upranking premium accounts or blue checks next to their names.”
Bluesky maintains that the core platform will “continue to be free to use,” as stated by Wang earlier.
