The social network Bluesky has recently celebrated a significant milestone, announcing that it has reached an impressive 40 million users. In an effort to enhance user experience and content personalization, Bluesky will soon begin testing a new feature: the ability to “dislike” posts. This feature aims to refine the personalization of content on the platform's main Discover feed, among other areas.
The announcement regarding the testing of the “dislikes” feature coincided with a series of updates focused on improving conversation control. These updates will include minor adjustments to replies, better detection of toxic comments, and various methods to prioritize more relevant conversations for individual users. By implementing the “dislikes” beta, Bluesky aims to utilize this new user feedback to enhance personalization further. As users express their discontent with certain posts, the platform will learn which types of content users prefer to see less frequently.
Bluesky has emphasized that these changes are geared towards fostering a community characterized by more fun, genuine, and respectful exchanges. This initiative comes in response to recent criticisms from users regarding the platform's moderation practices. Although Bluesky operates as a decentralized network—where users have the power to manage their own moderation—some users desire more direct intervention from the platform itself to ban harmful actors and controversial figures.
In light of these concerns, Bluesky is committed to enhancing the tools available for users to control their experience. Current features include moderation lists that allow users to block multiple individuals quickly, content filter controls, and the ability to mute specific words. Moreover, Bluesky provides the option to subscribe to different moderation service providers, thereby giving users greater autonomy over their interactions on the platform.
Bluesky has also introduced a feature that allows users to detach quote posts, reducing unwanted attention—a significant factor contributing to the negative culture of “dunking” on competing platforms like X (formerly Twitter). In addition to the “dislikes” feature, the company is actively testing a variety of ranking updates, design changes, and feedback tools designed to enhance the quality of conversations on its network.
One of the most exciting developments is the introduction of a new system to map out “social neighborhoods” on Bluesky. This feature will illustrate the connections between users who frequently interact with one another, allowing the platform to prioritize replies from those “closer to your neighborhood.” By doing so, Bluesky seeks to make the conversations displayed in users’ feeds more relevant and familiar. This approach could potentially address user challenges faced on competing platforms like Threads, which has struggled with confusing feeds.
Bluesky's latest model also boasts improved detection capabilities for replies considered toxic, spammy, off-topic, or posted in bad faith. This enhancement will downrank such interactions in threads, search results, and notifications. Furthermore, the platform plans to modify the Reply button, directing users to the entire thread rather than only the compose screen. This change is anticipated to encourage users to read through conversations fully before responding, thereby reducing content collapse and redundant replies—issues frequently criticized in other social media platforms.
Additionally, Bluesky is making adjustments to the reply settings feature, making it more apparent to users that they can control who is permitted to respond to their posts. These thoughtful modifications reflect Bluesky’s commitment to creating an engaging, user-oriented environment that prioritizes quality conversations and interactions.
