Welcome, folks, to the Wild West of social media, where the outlaws are the ones running the show, and the sheriffs are just trying to keep up. Today, we’re talking about Bluesky, the new kid on the block that’s trying to revolutionize the way we think about verification. (Ricky Gervais voice) Ah, verification, the ultimate symbol of online status. Who needs actual human connections when you can have a blue tick?
So, what’s Bluesky’s plan? Well, they want to create a system where multiple verification providers can exist, like a digital Wild West where anyone can be a sheriff. (Jimmy Carr voice) Ah, because what could possibly go wrong with that? I mean, it’s not like we’ve seen a rise in fake news, propaganda, and general online chaos already. No, no, no, let’s just add more verification providers to the mix and see what happens.
But seriously, Bluesky’s CEO, Jay Graber, says that this approach will allow for more flexibility and creativity in the way verification works. For example, a university could verify users as alums, or a fan group could verify people as community members. (Rowan Atkinson voice) Ah, yes, because nothing says “verified” like a badge from the Swifties fan club.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “How will this work in practice?” Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Bluesky is still figuring out how to present multiple verifications to the end user without causing confusion. (Lee Evans voice) Ah, yeah, because we all love a good game of “Spot the Verified User” when we’re scrolling through our feeds.
But in all seriousness, Bluesky’s approach is an interesting one. By decentralizing verification, they’re trying to create a more open and inclusive system. And who knows, maybe it’ll work. Maybe we’ll see a rise in creative verification providers that will change the way we think about online identity. (Ricky Gervais voice) Or maybe we’ll just see a bunch of fake verified accounts and chaos. Either way, it’ll be fun to watch.
So, what’s the timing on all this? Well, Bluesky’s team is still working on it, but they’re optimistic about the future. (Jimmy Carr voice) Ah, yes, because nothing says “optimistic” like a 20-person team trying to keep up with 22.7 million users. But hey, good luck to them.
In the meantime, Bluesky is also working on other features, like connecting users to their broader web presence. (Rowan Atkinson voice) Ah, yes, because nothing says “broad web presence” like a Linktree link to your personal website and other social accounts.
So, there you have it, folks. Bluesky’s plan for verification is a bold one, and we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out. But one thing’s for sure – it’ll be an interesting ride.
Rapidly expanding social networking startup Bluesky, a Twitter/X alternative built on open web principles, unveiled its innovative approach to user account verification in a livestream on Monday, diverging from traditional social media platforms like Meta and X. In contrast to existing pay-for-verification models where users pay for the privilege of a blue check confirming their identity, Bluesky envisions a system where multiple verification providers serve the needs of its diverse community. The company’s vision for a decentralized verification system is designed to promote transparency, authenticity, and user choice.
Currently, the only method to verify an account on Bluesky is by adopting a custom domain name, an option the company introduced last year, allowing users to establish a unique online presence. This feature has enabled prominent publications like The New York Times to securely verify their accounts on the platform. Additionally, Bluesky tackles impersonation issues directly as they arise, ensuring a safer and more trustworthy environment for users.
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber explained that the company might become a verification provider in the future, but it would be one of many options available to users. “We could be a verification provider — and we might at some point — but it would be something where you’re accessing through one app, and then there might be another app and there might be other services,” Graber stated. “And they can choose to trust us — the Bluesky team’s verification — or they could do their own. Or other people could do their own.” This approach would empower users to choose their preferred verification method, promoting a more open and flexible system.
The proposed verification system marks a significant departure from traditional models, where a single entity controls who receives the “verified” label. By allowing multiple verification providers to coexist, Bluesky aims to create a more inclusive and dynamic environment. This approach has the potential to revolutionize the way users verify their online identities and interact with each other.
In contrast, Twitter’s verification system has been plagued by complications and concerns over the years. Initially, the platform verified high-profile users, but this created a two-tier system, where some users felt entitled to verification while others were overlooked. Under Elon Musk’s ownership, Twitter attempted to overhaul the system, introducing a paid verification model, but this move was met with criticism and chaos, as users exploited the system to impersonate others.
Meta, on the other hand, followed Twitter/X with paid verification, primarily targeting creators and businesses on its platform. However, this model has been criticized for its limitations and potential for abuse. In response, Bluesky is developing an infrastructure that enables anyone to verify others according to their own rules and policies, similar to how users can build their own feeds, moderation systems, and algorithms on the platform.
Bluesky’s verification system has the potential to empower various entities, such as universities, fan groups, or organizations, to verify users based on specific criteria. For instance, a university could verify users as alumni, or a fan group like the Swifties could verify people as community members. This would create a more diverse and inclusive environment, where users can choose to verify themselves through multiple providers.
However, the company acknowledges the challenge of presenting multiple verifications to the end user in a clear and non-confusing way. Bluesky needs to determine how these verifications would appear, possibly as badges, and whether third-party apps would need to display them consistently. As Graber noted, “…We’re trying to design long-term for more applications [and] more services, beyond our own, to operate.”
Timing is another crucial aspect, as Bluesky’s 20-person team has been working to keep up with the platform’s growth spike, which saw 8.7 million new users added since the U.S. presidential elections. With over 22.7 million total users, Bluesky is now the leading Twitter alternative, leaving Meta’s X competitor Threads to scramble and counter the threat with its own set of Bluesky-like features.
In the livestream, Bluesky’s team also discussed long-term plans, including designing profiles that connect users to their broader web presence, including personal websites and other social accounts, similar to Linktree. While the company couldn’t commit to rolling out specific features or a timeline, given its rapid growth, it is clear that Bluesky is dedicated to transforming the social media landscape with its innovative approach to user account verification.
