Bluesky, the social platform built on open web principles and an alternative to Twitter/X, announced in a live stream how its verification model will differ from those of major players like Meta and X. While these platforms charge for verification badges, Bluesky plans a decentralized system with multiple providers tailored to its community’s needs.

Currently, the only way to verify an account on Bluesky is by using a custom domain, like @nytimes.com for The New York Times, which confirms authenticity. However, the company believes this is just the beginning.

CEO Jay Graber suggested Bluesky could offer its own verification service alongside independent systems, allowing users to choose between providers. This model avoids central control over who receives the “verified” label, contrasting sharply with the centralized approaches of other platforms.

For example, Twitter’s verification process evolved from an exclusive system for public figures to a paid model under Elon Musk, leading to impersonation issues and devaluation of the verification badge. Meta similarly adopted a paid model focused on businesses and creators.

Bluesky aims to create a flexible infrastructure where entities like universities or fan communities can establish their own verification criteria. The challenge, according to Graber, is making these multiple verification methods clear to users, possibly through standardized badges or visual indicators.

Despite Bluesky’s rapid growth—now exceeding 22 million users, fueled by dissatisfaction with X—its small team of 20 is focused on managing this expansion while planning features like profiles that connect social accounts and personal websites. However, there is no set timeline for these updates, as the platform prioritizes scalability.

By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director