ISLAMABAD: Bluesky, the emerging rival to X (formerly Twitter), announced on Monday that it is rolling out blue verification checks for accounts confirmed to be authentic. In a blog post, the platform stated it would “proactively verify authentic and notable accounts and display a blue check next to their names,” emphasizing that “trust is everything.”
The new feature echoes the original verification system once used by Twitter to combat impersonation and build credibility. That system was dismantled after Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, opting instead to offer verification badges to users who subscribed to X Premium, regardless of identity.
“Social media has connected us in powerful ways, but it hasn’t always given us the tools to know who we’re interacting with or why we should trust them,” the Bluesky team wrote.
Founded in 2019 by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky was conceived as a decentralized alternative to traditional platforms, offering users more control over data and content moderation. After years in development, it officially launched in 2023 — a year after Musk’s controversial Twitter takeover.
Bluesky currently has over 30 million users and already allows individuals and organizations to verify their identities by using domain-linked usernames, with more than 270,000 accounts utilizing that feature. The platform will now begin assigning blue checks to “trusted verifiers” and plans to open a public request form for verification in the near future.
Bluesky COO Rose Wang, speaking to AFP, called 2025 “our coming-out year,” adding, “People want a safe, moderated space to discuss the world, have fun, and make friends — and they’re not finding that anywhere else right now.”
