2024-12-02 16:24:00
In strong growth, the Bluesky is already having to deal with problems on a large platform. Last Friday, the social network’s security profile announced that it will now require parody or satire accounts identify themselves as such in order to continue operating normally.
As noted by Engadgetthis decision comes shortly after a survey carried out by third parties found that 44% of Bluesky’s most followed accounts have some parody account created by other users.
1/ With more users joining Bluesky, we know how important it is to identify which accounts are real. Users deserve confidence that the accounts they interact with are authentic.
Sharing some details about our impersonation policy
â Bluesky Safety (@safety.bsky.app) November 29, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Although this type of profile is allowed on Bluesky, malicious people can create profiles pretending to be famous users with the intention of taking advantage of someone’s image to carry out a scam or simply gain followers.
In a thread, the social network said that this second practice (also known as churning) is now not only explicitly prohibited, but also announced that it will now require parody or satire accounts to make their nature clear in their username (not to be confused with the â@â) and bio.
If the account owner fails to indicate that the account is a joke in one of these two areas, the Bluesky moderation team (which is now four times larger) will add a misrepresentation label to the profile.
The social network also said it is exploring other ways to allow its users to confirm their identities beyond domain verification, which is far from the most accessible process possible, although quite interesting.
X follows the same path
Having lost a considerable number of users to Bluesky in recent times, the X (formerly Twitter) is also concerned about parody accounts.
This is because developers specializing in reverse engineering began to notice, last week, a new label in the social network’s code that says whether a profile is a parody account or not.
BREAKING: X is working on the âParody Accountâ label!
This is how it will be visible in posts!
BREAKING: @X is working on “parody account labels”
and yes, the label will be visible in posts as well (under the user name). pic.twitter.com/CEC3J7OXJqâ Weak (@weak_12) November 29, 2024
URGENT: o @X
is working on âparody account labelsâ 
and yes, the label will also be visible on posts (below the user name).
As you can see in the images, the label in question is very similar to the label of automated accounts (the famous bots) and even has the robot emoji (). According to the information, it appears both on the profile and in the account’s posts.
Like Bluesky, X also allows this type of account, but imposes rules so that they are not used to scam other people. It is still unclear, however, when (or if) X will actually launch this label.
via TechCrunch
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#Bluesky #implements #stricter #rules #parodysatire #accounts #works #label
What are the potential consequences âof unchecked parody accounts on social media platforms?
⢠## AG: Interview on Social â¤Media Account Parody âLabels
**Host:** Welcome back to âthe show. Today,â we’re⣠discussing the increasingâ need for social media platforms to address parody accounts. Joining us is Dr. Emily Carter, a social âmediaâ expert and professor at the University of Technology. Thanks for being here, Dr. Carter.
**Dr. Carter:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** So, Bluesky⤠recently announced new rules regarding parody and satire accounts.â What prompted⤠this move?
**Dr. Carter:** ⤠[1] According to a recent⢠survey, almost âhalf of⤠the most followed accounts on Bluesky are parodies.⢠This raises â˘concerns about deception andâ potential harm. People might mistakenly believe âthey’re interacting with real individuals, which can lead to misinformation or scams.
**Host:** Bluesky’s ânew policy requires these accounts to clearly identify⤠themselves. Is this a sufficient measure?
**Dr. Carter:** It’s â¤a good âŁstart. Transparency is key. Requiring parody accounts âto explicitly state their nature âŁin their username⢠or bio â˘helps users differentiate âbetween⢠authentic and satirical content.
**Host:**
What about platform X? They seem to be taking a similar approach.
**Dr. âCarter:** Yes, developers discovered code⣠suggestingâ X is working on a “parody account” label, similar to the existing “bot” label. This visual cue could be âŁefficient inâ alerting users to parody⣠accounts,â both on profiles âand within posts.
**Host:** Some â¤argue that labeling parody accounts stifles creativity and humor. What’s your take on that?
**Dr. Carter:** It’s a valid âŁconcern. Striking a balance between authenticity and freedom of expression is crucial. âBut âŁallowing unchecked parody accounts can create confusion and erode trust in the platform. Clear labelling can help maintain a healthy online environment.
**Host:** How do you see âthis trend of⣠platform-specific policies developing in the future?
**Dr. Carter:** More platforms will likely adopt similar measures as parody accounts become increasingly prevalent. A universal standard for labelling would⣠be ideal, but until then, we’ll âŁlikely see diverseâ approaches.
**Host:** Dr. Carter, thank you for your insights on this important issue.
**Dr. Carter:** My pleasure.
