Introduction Of Bluesky
Its is stepping into the verification game — but it’s doing things a little differently.
On Thursday, the decentralized social media platform quietly rolled out an application process for verifying what it calls “notable and authentic” users. The announcement came via a post from the @bluesky-safety account, inviting eligible users to apply through a new online form.
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At the same time, Bluesky is expanding access to verification tools by allowing organizations to become Trusted Verifiers. These groups can help validate users themselves. The system has been in testing with a small group of partners, including The New York Times, Wired, and The Athletic.
But not everyone is celebrating.
To some longtime social media users, verification badges still carry the baggage of Twitter’s (now X) checkmark culture. Once a coveted symbol of credibility, the blue check devolved into a status symbol and, eventually, a feature for paying subscribers under Elon Musk’s ownership. Critics argue that it created a two-tiered system where only select users were given visibility and clout.
Bluesky is trying to avoid that trap.
Instead of relying solely on its own team to verify users, it’s opening up verification responsibilities to outside organizations and encouraging users to self-verify using domain-based usernames. For instance, NPR goes by @npr.org, proving its legitimacy through its domain name. According to Bluesky, more than 270,000 users have already verified themselves this way.
So, How Do You Get Verified?
The new application form lays out a few requirements: your account needs to be active, secure, and complete (bio, profile photo, etc.), and you must represent a real person, business, or organization. If you have an official website, you’ll need to link it.
But when it comes to what actually qualifies as “notable,” things get a little fuzzy.
Its says notability will be judged based on a user’s influence in their field and region. That could include media coverage, professional recognition, or presence on respected reference platforms, among other factors. Additional criteria might apply to specific verification categories, but so far, those guidelines aren’t public.
Applicants are asked to provide links and supporting evidence — but Bluesky won’t reach out unless a request is approved. In short, someone at the company is screening requests behind the scenes to catch any public figures who might otherwise slip through the cracks.
Will This Change Bluesky’s Vibe?
That’s the million-dollar question. So far, Bluesky has stood out by rejecting centralized authority and influencer hierarchies. While verification could help users trust the authenticity of accounts, it also risks recreating the same old dynamics people came to Bluesky to escape.
Some critics argue that this rollout feels premature — it might have gone over better if the company had first built a broader network of Trusted Verifiers. That would’ve reinforced its decentralized ethos.
Interestingly, alternatives are already emerging. A forked version of Bluesky, called Deer.Social, takes a community-driven approach to verification. There, users can appoint their own verifiers — and in turn, see who those verifiers trust. It’s a more democratic, decentralized model where everyone can play a role.
As for Bluesky? The company hasn’t commented publicly yet. But if its goal is to balance authenticity with openness, it may have some work ahead.
