After two years, Bluesky, a rapidly growing social media network competing with X and Threads, overhauled its regulations and Community Guidelines.
This update tightens restrictions and ensures compliance with new global standards to make the user experience safer and more courteous.
Users are encouraged to comment on these policy changes before October 2025.
Shaping behaviour with more explicit rules
Updated guidelines emphasise Safety, Respect, Authenticity, and Following the Rules. Bluesky bases content labelling, removal, and account actions on these criteria.
The platform outlaws self-harm, animal cruelty, unlawful content, sexualisation of kids in roleplay, doxxing, and non-consensual personal information exchange. Journalism, parody, and satire are protected by the new community standards, allowing factual reporting on delicate topics like violence and mental health.
Boosting transparency and dispute resolution
Bluesky offers a new “informal dispute resolution process” for phone complaints before official action. This contrasts with larger sites where many users are suspended without explanation or dialogue.
In another user-friendly approach, Bluesky permits some harms to be handled through court processes instead of arbitration, bucking tech norms. Age verification will be applied to comply with rules like the UK’s Online Safety Act.
Tackling community challenges head-on
The platform’s community has been criticised for self-importance, hostility, and political bias. Bluesky hopes these new regulations will encourage nicer, more considerate interactions.
The corporation admits to mistakes that alienated marginalised communities. Customisable moderation tools like block lists promote user empowerment and various community norms.
Bluesky’s complete policy update aims to make the platform safer, more transparent, and more inclusive while respecting users’ views and adjusting to changing legal and social norms.