Bluesky has introduced a significant update allowing users to tailor their primary Discover feeds. This enhancement includes the release of a new version of its app, enabling users to provide feedback on the algorithmic feed. With the “Show more like this” and “Show less like this” options available within a post’s menu, users can now influence the content that appears in their feed more precisely.
This update aims to empower Bluesky users to curate a timeline that aligns with their individual preferences, rather than being driven by the company’s assumptions of user interests. This feature mirrors functionality seen on X (formerly Twitter), which allows users to select “Not interested in this post” within its For You feed.
The introduction of this feature complements an already extensive array of controls that users can utilize to refine their Bluesky experience.
Bluesky distinguishes itself from centralized social media platforms by allowing users to create their own custom feeds, which others can subscribe to. These custom feeds can have distinct themes or algorithms compared to Bluesky’s Discover feed, broadening the avenues for finding engaging content.
Additionally, Bluesky permits subscription to multiple moderation services, giving users the discretion to filter the type of posts they wish to view or avoid. Users also have the option to develop and manage their own independent moderation services using Bluesky’s tool, Ozone.
By providing such extensive controls to its user base, Bluesky aims to establish a platform where policies and rules are shaped by the users themselves, rather than being dictated by a select group of executives. However, the decentralized alternative to Twitter/X has previously grappled with defining the boundaries of user moderation and determining when the platform should intervene.
In its formative stages, Bluesky encountered criticism for its inadequate handling of moderation issues, such as permitting usernames containing racial slurs to bypass its filters.
Furthermore, when Bluesky began to address the demand for moderation, it lost support from one of its initial backers, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Dorsey recently explained his departure from the board, indicating that he felt the company was replicating Twitter’s mistakes by removing users from the service.
“This is not a protocol that’s truly decentralized. It’s another app,” he remarked regarding his decision.
Despite Dorsey’s reservations, Bluesky continues to empower users with more tools, including designing custom feeds, algorithms, moderation services, and now, tailoring the discovery feed.
Moreover, while Bluesky’s app remains the primary server utilizing its decentralized AT Protocol, the company has highlighted ongoing efforts to expand the network. This includes the development of the blogging platform whtwnd.com, also based on the AT Protocol (atproto).
Currently, Bluesky boasts a user base of approximately 5.6 million. The company has announced that additional significant updates are forthcoming, which will include support for video, direct messages, improved custom feeds, anti-harassment features, OAuth capabilities, and more.
