How Do Bluesky Feeds Work?

As a rapidly growing social platform, Bluesky has gained attention for its unique approach to displaying content to users. While most social media platforms operate under a specific algorithm controlled by a singular entity (such as Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram), Bluesky’s approach is entirely different. Although this is one of Bluesky’s main selling points, it can be confusing for newcomers. In this article, we’ll explore exactly how Bluesky’s feeds and algorithms work.

What Are Feeds in Bluesky?

Feeds are streams of content presented to users, typically organized by a certain algorithm. Bluesky doesn’t solely rely on a general, all-encompassing feed; it offers three different types of feeds for users to scroll through. First, there are Custom Feeds, created by users to cover specific topics. Then, there’s the Following Feed and the Discover Feed. Yes, a Discover Feed indicates there is an overarching algorithm that Bluesky uses, but it’s not the only option available to users.

How Do Bluesky Feeds Work?

Every social media platform uses an algorithm that dictates what users are shown, from content from the accounts they follow to entirely new content from other sources. The algorithm’s goal is to filter content based on what each user wants to see, or rather, what they have engaged with in the past. This algorithm also plays a key role in keeping users active and engaged on the platform. Although Bluesky uses a similar algorithm in its Discover Feed, it is the Custom Feeds that distinguish Bluesky from its competitors.

In May of 2023, Jay Graber uploaded a blog post explaining what makes Bluesky’s algorithm different from other social media platforms. Bluesky prioritizes user control. Rather than relying on a “master algorithm” controlled by a single company (such as Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok), Bluesky aims for an “open and diverse marketplace of algorithms.” Users have the ability to create and share custom feeds, granting them complete autonomy over the content they see at any moment.

Let’s go through each of the three types of Bluesky feeds to better understand their functions:

• Discover Feed: This feed uses a traditional algorithmic approach, recommending content based on your past engagements. It is very similar to feeds found on most other social media platforms.
• Following Feed: This feed does not utilize an algorithm but solely presents content from the people you follow in chronological order.
• Custom Feeds: Custom Feeds can cover a wide range of topics, from gaming and books to local politics. They are created by users and follow an algorithm dictated by the user, usually as simple as looking for specific keywords that pertain to the feed’s topic.

The Discover Feed and Following Feed are available to you automatically. To add other feeds to your homepage, follow these steps:

1. Open the Bluesky app and click the three lines in the top left corner.
2. Select the “#Feeds” tab in the menu that appears.
3. On the Feeds tab, Bluesky will suggest popular custom feeds. You can also use the search bar under “Discover New Feeds” to find specific topics.
4. Pin the feeds you’d like to save by clicking the plus icon beside the feed’s name.
5. You can reorder your pinned feeds by clicking "Edit" in the top right corner of the Feeds tab.

How to Create a Bluesky Feed

Bluesky provides instructions on creating a custom feed on its website, but doing so requires some coding know-how. You will need to create your own algorithm to build a custom feed, which can be complex. If you're not coding-savvy, here’s a resource that can help: Skyfeed.

Skyfeed is a third-party app with several functions, including a custom feed builder. Once you enter the custom feed builder, you will see various options that allow you to customize your feed on Bluesky. You can choose the types of posts that will appear, the users whose content will be featured, and much more. It’s all up to you and what you want in your custom feed. You’ll also have options for how content is sorted, from chronological order to a ranking system that prioritizes the most popular posts.

If you're not selective about what your custom feed contains, it might end up looking more like the Discover Feed than a truly custom experience. That’s why Skyfeed allows you to filter out certain keywords. This filtering system is essential for muting posts that contain political chatter, NSFW content, or spoilers, depending on your preferences. For example, if I were to create a feed called “Cute Cats,” I would mute keywords like “dogs,” “ugly,” or “gross” to ensure irrelevant content does not appear in my custom feed.

Here are some more detailed Skyfeed tutorials if you need further instructions:

• The Moderately Skilled Person’s Guide to Making a Bluesky Feed
• A Quick and Dirty Guide to Making Custom Feeds on Bluesky
• How to Create a Custom Feed on Bluesky Social (Skyfeed) - Full Guide

How to Post on a Bluesky Feed

Bluesky is not like platforms such as Reddit, where you need to navigate to a specific custom feed or subreddit to post. Instead, content will appear in applicable custom feeds naturally, as dictated by the algorithm. If your content isn’t showing up on a custom Bluesky feed organically, here’s how to identify what you need to do:

• Find the feed you want to post to and read their "About Me" section to learn the criteria for posting. They may require specific keywords, hashtags, or emojis.
• If the custom feed does not have any instructions in their "About Me," consider reaching out to the feed admin directly.

Understanding how Bluesky feeds work is essential for navigating the platform, both as a passive user and content creator. With its unique combination of Discover, Following, and Custom Feeds, Bluesky provides users with the flexibility to curate their content experience. Don't hesitate to explore and experiment with the different feed types to establish a vibrant community around your interests!