Bluesky may soon add blue check verification | TechCrunch


AI Summary Hide AI Generated Summary

Bluesky's New Verification System

Bluesky is developing a new blue check verification system, a departure from X's (formerly Twitter's) paid model. This system, as revealed through code changes on its GitHub repository, will involve multiple organizations in the verification process.

Decentralized Verification

Instead of centralizing verification, Bluesky will designate certain organizations as "trusted verifiers," granting them the authority to issue blue checks. This approach aims to be more inclusive and less susceptible to manipulation compared to X's previous model.

Potential Launch and Functionality

The system might be launched as early as Monday, April 21, 2025, based on a blog post link found in the code. Verified users will display a blue check icon, with trusted verifiers having a slightly different icon. Tapping the blue check will reveal which organizations granted the verification.

Contrast with X's Approach

Bluesky's method contrasts sharply with X's, which has faced criticism for its inconsistent and ultimately paid verification system, leading to issues like verified bot accounts. Bluesky's decentralized approach intends to avoid these problems, though the practical implementation remains to be seen.

Key Players and Implications

  • Organizations like The New York Times are expected to participate as trusted verifiers.
  • The system aims for broader user verification but its effectiveness needs to be evaluated.
Sign in to unlock more AI features Sign in with Google

Bluesky may soon get a new blue checkmark verification system, according to changes to the app’s public GitHub repository spotted Friday by reverse engineer alice.mosphere.at.

The blue checks may have a similar look to the system pioneered by Twitter, now X, but Bluesky’s version seems like it will work quite differently.

Bluesky’s blue check system may rely on multiple organizations to distribute blue checks, according to the codebase changes. That suggests Bluesky will actively verify notable accounts, but also label certain organizations as “trusted verifiers,” and give them the authority to directly issue blue checks themselves.

The changes to Bluesky’s verification system may be announced as soon as Monday, according to a blog post link found in Friday’s pull request titled “verification,” which is dated for April 21, 2025.

While Bluesky already lets users verify themselves by tying their accounts to official websites, CEO Jay Graber has hinted the company would try other types of verification. Last year, Graber said Bluesky may experiment with a system where it’s not the only group that can verify users.

The pull request also shows an icon, a blue circle containing a white checkmark, that will appear on verified users’ profiles. Meanwhile, trusted verifiers will have scalloped blue circles containing a white checkmark on their profiles.

A blog spotted in Bluesky’s github repo posted by an occasional reverse engineerImage Credits:alice.mosphere.at

An image spotted in Bluesky’s forthcoming announcement suggests The New York Times, and other trusted news publishers, may soon have the ability to verify users in the blue check system. By tapping on a user’s blue check, other users can see which organizations have granted verification, according to the changes.

How the verification system will workImage Credits:alice.mosphere.at

Bluesky’s approach to verification is a lot different from how X operates its verification services. While X used to distribute blue checks to popular, authentic accounts, Elon Musk decided to overhaul the system and only verifies users who pay a monthly subscription. Musk has since walked back that decision, giving blue checks to some influential users that don’t pay for it, while still allowing other people to pay for it.

Some have argued that X has diluted the value of a blue check on its platform altogether, even allowing some bot accounts to be verified.

Bluesky did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.

Bluesky seems to be taking a decentralized approach to verification by spreading out the decision-making power to several organizations. That could mean a lot of users on Bluesky are getting verified, but it remains to be seen how this approach will work in practice.

Was this article displayed correctly? Not happy with what you see?

We located an Open Access version of this article, legally shared by the author or publisher. Open It
Tabs Reminder: Tabs piling up in your browser? Set a reminder for them, close them and get notified at the right time.

Try our Chrome extension today!


Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more

Facebook

Save articles to reading lists
and access them on any device


Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more

Facebook

Save articles to reading lists
and access them on any device