As the US election approaches, Bluesky is ramping up its defensive measures to ensure platform integrity, explicitly reserving the right to implement additional safeguards in the coming days to maintain a secure environment.
A Decentralized Approach to Content Moderation
Unlike X and Threads, where moderation decisions are centralized and controlled solely by corporate management, Bluesky differentiates itself through a decentralized architecture. This framework allows individuals to operate their own servers and create their own moderation services. Furthermore, users have the flexibility to subscribe to multiple moderation services, effectively curating their feeds to match their personal preferences.
Challenging Billionaire-Led Platforms
“Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see,” the company explained in March. “On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” The platform’s philosophy is clear: if users are dissatisfied with Bluesky’s internal management or moderation standards, they are empowered to build their own independent solutions.
Scaling Operations for Growth
To handle recent spikes in user activity, the Bluesky moderation team has undergone significant expansion. While the company has not disclosed the exact current headcount, CEO Jay Graber provided insight into the team’s scale during a March interview on the Decoder podcast. At that time, Graber noted, “We’re about 18 across engineering and ops, and then we have about that number on support and moderation.”
