Bluesky tightens moderation rules to combat online harassment
What's the story
Bluesky, a decentralized social network and rival to X and Threads, has announced major changes in its moderation process. The updates are aimed at improving the way the platform tracks violations of its Community Guidelines and enforces policies. The new changes include additional reporting categories within the app, modifications to the "strike" system for violations, and more guidance for rule-breakers.
App updates
New features and improvements
The latest version of the Bluesky app (v. 1.110) comes with a dark-mode app icon and a revamped feature for controlling who can reply to posts. Separately, the company says its moderation updates are necessary due to its rapid growth and the need for "clear standards and expectations for how people treat each other" on the platform.
Controversy response
Bluesky's response to recent moderation controversy
The announcement comes after a recent moderation controversy where a user was suspended for making what Bluesky interpreted as a violent threat. Author and influencer Sarah Kendzior had said she wanted to "shoot the author of this article just to watch him die," referring to an article about Johnny Cash that she didn't like. However, Bluesky suspended her account for expressing "a desire to shoot the author of the article."
Enhanced features
Reporting options and internal tools
Bluesky is expanding its reporting options from six to nine, giving users more precision in flagging issues. This will help moderators take action on critical reports more quickly. The company has also improved its internal tools to automatically track violations and enforcement actions in one place, ensuring users receive clear information about what happened and where they stand.
Strike system
Strike system and user notifications
As part of the changes, Bluesky's strike system will now assign a severity rating to content. This will help determine the enforcement action taken. For example, content flagged as a "critical risk" would lead to a permanent ban. Users will also be notified when they're subject to an enforcement action with details about which Community Guideline they violated, the severity level assigned, their total violation count, and more.