Frequently Asked Questions about Bluesky for Newcomers

Bluesky has made headlines as Twitter/X’s latest and perhaps most threatening competitor. In November, the platform saw 1 million new users sign up for an account within 24 hours, with sign-ups nearly reaching the million mark day by day since then. Bluesky has many similarities to, but also many differences from, other major social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and of course, Twitter/X. As a result, making the transition comes with many questions. With users across different social platforms considering or already starting the switch, we wrote this article to address the most frequently asked questions by Bluesky newcomers. From basic inquiries about the privacy of your post likes to more opinion-based comparisons like Bluesky vs. Threads, no questions are off-limits. Keep reading to see if your question is answered.

Introduction to Bluesky

Similar to Twitter/X, Bluesky is a microblogging social media platform that allows users to share short text messages, images, and videos on their profiles and within the platform’s feeds feature. Bluesky was developed as part of a Twitter initiative back in 2019, but became independent shortly before Twitter was acquired by Elon Musk. Although originally an invite-only platform, it has since opened to the public with great success.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bluesky for Newcomers

Do Bluesky users know who views their account?

No. Bluesky does not provide users the ability to see who has viewed their profile, which means you can lurk freely without getting caught!

Are Bluesky likes public?

No. You can’t see likes on another Bluesky user's profile unless you use Graysky. Graysky is a third-party Bluesky app with a plethora of features, one of which allows you to view other users’ likes. This is a question likely stemming from Twitter’s old convention of public likes (likes on Twitter/X have been made private since then).

Are Bluesky lists public?

All lists created on Bluesky are public as of December 2024. Private lists have been a highly requested feature for some time, and they are apparently on Bluesky’s roadmap as a future feature.

How do Bluesky account bans work?

Bluesky has a moderation team responsible for banning accounts when applicable. Bluesky will ban accounts it flags as spam, fake, or ‘inauthentic’ accounts, including bots and impersonators. In addition, Bluesky will ban users who use their accounts to scam or phish others.

If your account is banned, you will receive an email from Bluesky informing you of your account termination, and you will no longer be able to access your account. If you believe you were banned incorrectly and did not violate any of Bluesky’s rules, you will have the option to appeal the decision. Whether your appeal is successful will be up to Bluesky.

Does Bluesky have a search history?

As of February 2024, Bluesky's search now shows your history. This history is private to you and cannot be seen by other users.

How does Bluesky make money?

Bluesky was originally funded through Twitter, but since going independent, it has received funding from investors and venture capital firms. Bluesky has stated that they plan to acquire additional funding via a subscription model that includes enhanced profile customization and extra features. However, they have also indicated that this subscription model will differ significantly from Twitter/X’s model, which allows users to buy “reply prioritization” (a.k.a. showing up first in replies).

Will Bluesky add private accounts?

Bluesky does not currently allow users to create private accounts as of December 2024.

Why choose Bluesky over Threads or X?

What has truly differentiated Bluesky from other major social media platforms like Threads and X is its decentralization capabilities. Bluesky enables users to have control and autonomy over what they see while using the app, allowing them to create a feed that aligns perfectly with their interests. This approach differs not only from Threads and X but also from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and essentially every other social media platform on the market until now. These platforms generate a feed for you using a centralized algorithm, giving users no control over what content is displayed. This user experience can lead to minor annoyances, such as spoilers for a television show or movie you wanted to watch, as well as more significant issues, like encountering NSFW content if the algorithm decides to recommend it. The features offered by Bluesky enable users to filter their content according to their tastes and preferences, which is a surprisingly new concept in the social media space.