Bluesky Opens Platform to Heads of State Ahead of Major Elections
In a significant shift, decentralized social media platform Bluesky has lifted its ban on sign-ups for heads of state, allowing various office holders to join the platform. The move comes as countries like the United States and India prepare for crucial general elections later this year.
From Invite-Only to Open Sign-Ups
During its invite-only phase last year, Bluesky had a strict policy against accommodating heads of state, even asking users to contact the company before inviting prominent figures. However, in February, the platform opened its doors to anyone interested in signing up, marking a departure from its previous approach.
We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm in sending invitations, but our current policy is that we cannot accommodate heads of state to join us in our beta yet. This applies to recent/prominent heads of state as well.
Navigating Moderation Challenges
Since its inception, Bluesky has faced various moderation challenges, including issues like allowing racial slurs in handles and calls from users to clamp down on hate speech. In response, the platform introduced moderation lists and automated moderation tools last December. More recently, it launched the Ozone tool, enabling users to create and run their own independent moderation services.
Preparing for New Moderation Issues
As political heads join Bluesky, the platform may encounter new types of moderation issues it hasn’t faced before. The company will need to be prepared for different possibilities and adapt its moderation strategies accordingly.
Contrasting Approaches to Political Content
While Bluesky’s rival Threads has distanced itself from actively recommending political content, Bluesky users have the freedom to subscribe to different feeds without relying on a central algorithm. This decentralized approach allows for a more diverse range of political content on the platform.
2 Comments
Blue skies ahead or just a storm in a teacup with world leaders tweeting away?
Finally, a platform where world leaders can share memes alongside policy decisions!