Bluesky Starts Testing ‘Dislikes’ for Smarter Feeds; Hits 40 Million Users

Update marks a major step in refining conversation controls and boosting authentic engagement

Social networking platform Bluesky has announced that it has surpassed 40 million users, marking a significant milestone for the fast-growing decentralized network.

Alongside this achievement, the company revealed plans to introduce a new “dislikes” beta feature, designed to improve personalization, feed relevance, and user experience across its Discover tab and beyond.

The update forms part of Bluesky’s broader initiative to enhance conversation controls and foster authentic, respectful dialogue among its expanding global community.

‘Dislikes’ to make feeds smarter — not meaner

Bluesky’s new “dislikes” option will allow users to discreetly indicate posts they’d prefer to see less often. The feedback will help refine the platform’s algorithm, tailoring content recommendations to individual preferences.

However, Bluesky clarified that the feature won’t operate like a typical downvote system. Instead of publicly affecting post visibility, it will privately influence feed ranking and reply relevance, subtly shaping conversations based on user sentiment.

According to the company, the goal is to make Bluesky “a place for more fun, genuine, and respectful exchanges.”

This update follows growing user discussions around moderation and transparency — ongoing debates that have divided the decentralized social community since the platform’s public launch earlier this year.

Empowering users with moderation freedom

Rather than enforcing centralized moderation like traditional social media platforms, Bluesky is doubling down on user-controlled tools to manage engagement and filter content.

Existing features include:

• 🧱 Moderation lists — allowing users to block or mute groups of accounts.
• 🚫 Content filters and muted words — giving control over what appears in feeds.
• 🧩 Third-party moderation providers — users can subscribe to independent moderation services.
• 💬 Quote-post detachment — letting users disable quoting to prevent unwanted amplification.

These tools align with Bluesky’s philosophy of “user autonomy over algorithmic control,” setting it apart from platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Threads, where moderation is managed from the top down.

‘Social neighborhoods’ and conversation mapping

Bluesky is also testing a new algorithmic model called “social neighborhoods,” which maps out users who frequently interact or reply to one another.

This system prioritizes replies from people “closer to your neighborhood,” creating more relevant and coherent discussion threads — addressing one of the biggest frustrations users face on rival platforms, where replies often appear out of context.

Other updates include:

• Enhanced ranking systems to detect and demote toxic or spammy replies.
• A redesigned Reply button that now opens the full thread before users respond — encouraging thoughtful participation.
• More visible reply control settings, allowing users to choose who can respond to their posts directly from the main interface.

Together, these changes aim to create a more natural, conversational rhythm and reduce redundant or low-effort interactions.

Decentralization meets user experience

With over 40 million users and a growing developer community, Bluesky is positioning itself as the most robust decentralized social media ecosystem. Built on the AT Protocol, the platform lets users own their identities and customize their feeds, merging open-source innovation with community-driven moderation.

As Bluesky scales, its success will depend on balancing algorithmic intelligence, privacy, and trust — all while avoiding the pitfalls that have plagued centralized platforms.

The new “dislikes” feature, the company says, is an early but important step in that direction.