What is Bluesky App?

The Bluesky social app is making waves as a new player in the social media landscape. With millions of users and a range of unique features, it’s helpful for parents to understand how it works and how to keep their kids safe while using it. 

What is the Bluesky Social App?

Bluesky is a social networking app developed by a team led by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. It was designed to offer a fresh take on social media. It emphasizes open source principles, meaning its code is publicly available and can be contributed to or modified by developers around the globe. 

Bluesky also utilizes a decentralized protocol, known as the AT Protocol.  Rather than relying on a single server or company, it distributes data across multiple nodes. This approach supports a more transparent and adaptable social network. 

It’s available on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as desktop.

Similarities to Other Social Media Platforms

Often compared to the old Twitter (now X), Bluesky allows users to create accounts where they can follow other users, share posts (unofficially called skeets), engage with content, mention others by using the @ symbol followed by the username, and share images and videos with a maximum length of around 10 minutes. Users can include hashtags in their posts to categorize content and make it discoverable.

Once an account has been created, profiles can be personalized with a profile picture, cover photo, and a bio of up to 160 characters.

Bluesky has an Explore tab where users can explore trending topics, popular posts, and discover new accounts. Users can also use the search function to search for posts, hashtags, and profiles using keywords. 

Direct messaging on Bluesky is a newer feature as of May 2024. DMs currently support one-to-one messages, not group messages. The default setting only allows the user to receive DMs from people who they follow, but this setting can be changed to everyone or no one.

Unique Features

Users can compose text posts with up to 300 characters — more than X’s 280 character limit on regular accounts, but much less than Threads’ 500.

Bluesky allows users to curate their own timelines with custom feeds. This feature lets users control their content consumption by curating their feeds and following accounts based on their preferences, rather than being subject to a one-size-fits-all moderation policy.

Because of its decentralized protocol, Bluesky believes everything should be open to the public, and that includes all accounts. Any account on Bluesky is viewable to the public, with no way to make it private.

To address concerns about inappropriate content, Bluesky includes content filters and moderation lists to help manage what appears on a user’s feed. 

Bluesky also stands out by offering an ad-free experience, allowing users to engage with the platform without interruptions from promotional content. This focus on a clean, user-centric environment aims to enhance the quality of interactions and maintain a more genuine online space.

Is Bluesky Safe for Kids?

Bluesky is rated 17+ on both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, making it not suitable for younger audiences. 

Bluesky’s content filters and moderation lists are designed to help manage inappropriate content, but they are not foolproof. Parents should be aware that while these tools can significantly reduce exposure to harmful material, they do not eliminate all risks.

The platform relies heavily on “self-labeling,” where users add labels to their posts warning of inappropriate content. 

The app’s algorithm that learns from user interactions can create highly personalized feeds. While this can be a benefit, it also means that children might be exposed to content that aligns with their interests and curiosities but might not always be age-appropriate.

The open-source aspect of Bluesky means that its features and safety measures can be reviewed and improved continuously. However, it also requires users and parents to stay informed about any updates or changes that could affect their children’s experience.

Tips for Keeping Safe on Bluesky

If you decide to allow your child to use Bluesky, make use of the app’s content filters and moderation lists to control your scroll. Regularly review these settings to ensure they are effective.

Have open conversations with your kids about online safety and the importance of privacy. Encourage them to report any inappropriate content or behavior they encounter.

The Bluesky social app offers a fresh and innovative approach to social networking with features like custom feeds, an advanced algorithm, and content filters. While it provides tools to manage content and personalize user experiences, it’s crucial for parents to actively engage in their children’s online activities to ensure their safety.

By understanding how Bluesky works and implementing appropriate safety measures, you can help your kids navigate this new social network responsibly.

Because the Bluesky app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, any device with access to those stores will give a child easy access to Bluesky. Despite being rated 17+, age verification can be easily bypassed.

If you feel your child is ready for a smartphone, but not ready for social media apps like Bluesky, you might consider kid-safe tech that prevents the download of social media apps altogether.

Do you have any experience with Bluesky? Would you let your child use it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.