Bluesky has published an update that fixes one important issue that could lead to impersonation on the decentralized social network. From now on, Bluesky will no longer release your old .bsky.social username if you use your own domain to verify your identity on the platform. Previously, once you passed the verification process, your original .bsky.social name was available again. This means that if you don’t want an imposter to steal your old handle, you’ll need to sign up again to protect it.
The social network has been working to resolve verification issues that became a major issue after the service received an influx of new users in recent months. A third-party study at Cornell Tech that analyzed the app’s user base found that 44% of Bluesky’s 100 most-followed accounts had doppelgangers. In response, Bluesky adopted a more aggressive impersonation policy in late November, requiring parody, satire, or fan accounts to be labeled as such in both their handle and profile. Identity churn, where users initially impersonate themselves to gain followers and then switch their identities to evade law enforcement, was also specifically prohibited.
In addition to reserving your old handle, the updated Bluesky app now adds a “Mentions” tab to your notifications to make it easier to find replies to your posts. As The Verge points out, there’s also a new button that lets you choose how your replies are displayed, allowing you to choose between seeing them in linear order or in a threaded discussion.
