Bluesky has said it will start distributing blue checkmarks to users with “authentic and notable accounts” after proactively verifying their accounts.
The checkmark will be enclosed in a blue circle and displayed next to the name of the account, the company announced in a blog post on Monday, April 21. This builds on Bluesky’s existing system of self-verification, which involves users linking their account to a domain name such as “@name.newsroom.com” through a complex string of steps requiring domain access.
But the platform’s new system is likely to make it easier for independent journalists and creators to receive a blue checkmark as it means that they don’t have to set up a custom domain just to get verified.
However, Bluesky is not immediately letting users apply for the blue checkmark. “During this initial phase, Bluesky is not accepting direct applications for verification. As this feature stabilizes, we’ll launch a request form for notable and authentic accounts interested in becoming verified or becoming trusted verifiers,” the company said.
Besides the blue checkmark, Bluesky is also granting ‘Trusted Verifier’ status to organisations like The New York Times, which has a scallop-shaped verification badge as opposed to a rounded one.
The ‘Trusted Verifier’ status allows these organisations to verify those users who are affiliated with them on their own. Users can see which organisation verified an account by clicking on its blue checkmark. It can also be hidden from view by visiting Settings > Moderation > Verification Settings in the Bluesky app.
The original method of self-verification by setting your domain as your username is still possible. Bluesky said that over 2,70,000 accounts have linked their Bluesky username to their website so far.
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Noting that domain handles continue to be an important part of verification on the platform, it said, “At the same time, we’ve heard from users that a larger visual signal would be useful in knowing which accounts are authentic.”
These measures come after Bluesky reportedly struggled to stop impersonator accounts amid a surge in user growth last year. The new verification methods spread out the decision-making power among organisations which could ensure that more users get verified. However, it remains to be seen how it will work in practice.
Elon Musk-owned X, on the other hand, distributes blue checks to anyone who pays for it. As a result, some have argued that this type of paid verification has diluted the value of having a blue checkmark on your account.
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