Bluesky, a social media platform that is in its early stages, is facing many challenges even as its user base continues to grow. With over 25 million sign-ups, it is gaining mainstream attention but is also facing criticism and controversy.
The platform’s biggest controversy erupted last week when journalist Jesse Single joined Bluesky, prompting a sharp reaction from LGBTQ+ groups. Mr Singal, who has written about gender transitioning and been accused of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, became the most blocked user on BlueSky after a petition demanding his removal gained more than 25,000 signatures. While Bluesky did not directly address the controversy, it said it does not remove accounts based on activities outside the platform. Mr Singal claimed he had received death threats.
As Bluesky grows, its moderation team is struggling to manage the sharp increase in issues, including scams, fake accounts, and copyright violations. The platform received a record 42,000 moderation reports in a 24-hour period in November. Bluesky’s head of trust and security, Aaron Rodericks, acknowledged the challenges, including an increase in copyright complaints, particularly from Brazil, following the suspension of X in the country.
With the rise in romance and “pig slaughter” scams, scammers have also flocked to Bluesky. Bluesky has taken aggressive steps to remove fraudulent accounts, but pressure is increasing as bad actors adapt to the platform.
The site also suffers from the issue of impersonation. Last month, Bluesky began labeling fake celebrity accounts that were not identified as satire or fan accounts. Although the number of celebrity impersonators is not as widespread as on larger platforms, fake accounts of celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Cristiano Ronaldo have been identified.
BlueSky has also been scrutinized for its unique verification system. Instead of verifying personal identity, the platform allows users to verify their accounts through official website domains. The system has been criticized as being technically too complex for some users.
The platform is also dealing with increasing disinformation and potential propaganda, particularly from state-controlled news agencies like China’s China Daily and Russia’s RT. While Bluesky relies on user tips and automated systems to track and remove inauthentic content, there have been signs of state actor activity on the platform.
Nevertheless, Bluesky continues to attract users, many of whom have migrated from Elon Musk’s X, and has not yet reached the scale of larger platforms like Facebook or X.
