Bluesky Reaches 40 Million Users, Unveils New Features to Enhance User Experience
Social network Bluesky announced a significant milestone on Friday as it surpassed 40 million users. In a bid to enhance user experience, the platform will soon begin testing a new “dislike” feature aimed at improving personalization of content on its main Discover feed and other sections.
Dislikes for Enhanced Personalization
The introduction of the “dislike” option is expected to allow users to express their preferences more clearly. By selecting posts they dislike, the platform’s algorithms can learn what type of content users would prefer to see less of, not only affecting how posts are ranked in feeds but also influencing reply rankings.
- Users will soon have the ability to dislike posts, helping tailor their feed.
- The goal is to create a more personalized experience for each user.
“The changes are designed to make Bluesky a place for more fun, genuine, and respectful exchanges,” the company stated.
Responding to User Concerns
The announcement comes on the heels of some unrest within the community, as users voiced frustrations regarding moderation practices. Despite Bluesky’s design as a decentralized network where users have control over moderation, some members have called for the platform to take a more active role in banning disruptive users and controversial figures.
Bluesky aims to strike a balance by providing a suite of tools that empower users to manage their interactions effectively:
- Moderation lists for blocking groups of users.
- Content filtering controls.
- Muted words to limit exposure to undesirable topics.
- Subscription options to other moderation services.
Addressing Toxicity and Improving Conversations
The platform is also focused on reducing instances of toxicity in discussions. Bluesky has improved its ability to detect toxic, spammy, or irrelevant replies and plans to downrank these types of comments across threads, search results, and notifications.
Additionally, the company has revamped the reply button, guiding users to view the full thread before they respond. This adjustment is intended to minimize “content collapse,” the phenomenon where discussions become cluttered with redundant replies.
Mapping Social Neighborhoods
Another significant update includes the introduction of a system designed to map “social neighborhoods” on Bluesky. This feature aims to highlight the connections between users who frequently interact, helping to prioritize replies from individuals within these networks. By focusing on content from users “closer to your neighborhood,” Bluesky hopes to make timelines feel more relevant and engaging.
- Mapping social neighborhoods connects users with familiar content.
- Derived from user interactions, it could enhance conversation quality.
Competitive Edge Over Threads
Bluesky’s new features come at a critical time as competitors like Meta’s Threads have faced challenges in delivering coherent user experiences. The disorganization of conversation threads on Threads has left users feeling confused, as noted by newsletter writer Max Read, who criticized the platform for presenting posts that seemed disconnected from ongoing discussions.
Bluesky’s mapping of social neighborhoods may serve as a solution to these issues, potentially helping users identify who they are engaged with and why they are seeing certain posts.
Moderator Tools and User Control
As part of its commitment to give users more control over their interactions, Bluesky is enhancing visibility around reply settings. Users will find it easier to specify who can respond to their posts, reinforcing the platform’s emphasis on curating positive online interactions.
With these updates, Bluesky strives to foster a more enjoyable and respectful environment for users, as it continues to grow and evolve within the competitive social media landscape.