Bluesky Social is currently experiencing a rise in its user base, but this influx has resulted in an issue with impersonation. To combat this, the decentralized network is putting in place a more stringent policy concerning parody accounts that do not distinctly identify themselves.
In a message released via Bluesky’s [official safety account](https://bsky.app/profile/safety.bsky.app/post/3lc4h7p676225), the platform articulated its position: “Parody, satire, or fan accounts are permitted on Bluesky, but they must clearly indicate their nature in both the display name and bio to assist others in recognizing that the account is not official.” This initiative aims to promote transparency and lessen confusion among users.
Bluesky is also taking measures against the practice known as “identity churning,” where accounts create impersonation profiles to gain followers and subsequently rebrand under a completely different persona.
The platform’s revised terms of service are a response to the escalating impersonation issue. As reported by Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, 44 percent of the 100 most-followed accounts on Bluesky have at least one impersonator, as highlighted in his newsletter *Faked Up*. This illustrates the extent of the problem.
Bluesky’s distinct method of verification has unintentionally facilitated impersonation opportunities. Rather than a conventional verification badge, users are prompted to “self-verify” by connecting their accounts to custom domain names. This procedure requires users to add a specific string of text to the domain’s DNS record. Well-known accounts, such as the New York Times, utilize custom domains like @nytimes.com instead of the default @person.bsky.social.
Nevertheless, this system has created another issue: “handle squatting.” Organizations and individuals using custom domains frequently feel it necessary to maintain control of their previous handles to avoid impersonators seizing them, complicating the platform’s identity management environment.
As Bluesky expands, these recent policies and challenges highlight the urgent need for effective solutions to uphold trust and safety on the platform.