Bluesky will Start Confirming the Identities of ‘Notable’ Users

On Thursday, Bluesky quietly started allowing users to apply for verification on its social networking platform. In a post from the Bluesky Safety account, the company revealed that “notable and authentic” accounts are now eligible to submit verification requests via a new online form.

Additionally, organizations can apply to become Trusted Verifiers, granting them access to tools for verifying other users. Bluesky started piloting this feature last month with a select group of organizations, such as The New York Times, Wired, and The Athletic.

Echoes of Twitter’s Hierarchy

For some Bluesky users, the blue verification badge is unwelcome because it brings to mind the status-seeking behavior seen on Twitter (now X). On Twitter, verification was once a coveted mark of prestige but later turned into a paid feature under Elon Musk’s ownership, creating a system that divided users into different levels of importance or notability.

However, Bluesky’s verification method goes beyond just the blue badge. Besides delegating verification to Trusted Verifiers outside the company, users can also verify themselves by using a domain as their username — similar to NPR’s @npr.org account. So far, more than 270,000 accounts have opted for domain-based verification.

What remains uncertain is how Bluesky will evaluate verification applications.

The company’s form lists basic requirements: accounts must be active, complete (with bio and profile photo), secure, and represent a real person or legitimate entity. A link to an official website is recommended.

Still, the standards for determining what qualifies as “notable” are more ambiguous.

Recognition Within Field and Region

Bluesky states that notable accounts should be recognized within their specific “field and geographic region.” The company considers several factors to assess notability, such as “professional recognition, media coverage in reputable publications, presence on trustworthy reference sites, or other signs of public interest.” There may also be additional notability criteria tied to particular verification categories, but Bluesky has not publicly outlined those details.

“We take into account the broader context and the public significance of each account,” the form states. “Include any links or supporting evidence that can demonstrate your account’s notability.“

Ensuring High-Profile Accounts Aren’t Missed

The company notes that it will only contact users whose accounts are chosen for verification. This implies that someone must review the incoming requests to ensure that high-profile individuals, such as celebrities, are not overlooked.

Verification could impact Bluesky’s distinct culture, which avoids user hierarchies seen on Twitter/X and Threads. A wider network of independent Trusted Verifiers might have made the rollout more positively received and aligned with Bluesky’s decentralized goals.

In contrast, a forked version of the platform called Deer.Social offers a more democratic approach to verification. Users can choose their own trusted verifiers and view which accounts those verifiers have authenticated across the network. This decentralized approach offers an alternative for users who prefer less centralized verification than Bluesky’s.

Read the original article on: Techcrunch

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