Bluesky has released an update that fixes one critical issue that can lead to impersonation on the social network. Now, if you authenticate on the platform with your domain, Bluesky will no longer release your old .bsky.social username. In the past, going through the verification process will make your original .bsky.social name available again, meaning you’ll have to register again to protect your old handle if you don’t want actors to find you.
The social network has been trying to fix its authentication issues, which became a major problem after the service welcomed an influx of new users in recent months. A third-party business from Cornell Tech that analyzed the app’s user base previously found that 44 percent of Bluesky’s 100 most followed accounts have a doppelganger. In response, Bluesky adopted an aggressive impersonation policy and required parody, satire or fan accounts to label themselves as such on both their handle and bio in late November. It also expressly forbids identity spoofing, where users would start out as impersonators to gain followers and then change their identity later to avoid enforcement action.
In addition to keeping your old handle, the updated Bluesky app adds a “Mentions” tab to notifications, making it even easier to get replies to your posts. As The Verge notes, and has a new button that lets you choose how responses appear, so you can choose to see them in linear order or in threaded conversations.
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