Bluesky Reverses Ban on Heads of State Sign-Ups

Social networking platform Bluesky has lifted its ban on sign-ups for heads of state, opening its doors to various office holders. 

The company disclosed this over the weekend, revealing plans to extend its user base to political officeholders. 

This decision is coming just ahead of major general elections in countries such as the U.S. and India scheduled for later this year. 

During its invite-only period last year, Bluesky had explicitly stated its prohibition on heads of state joining the platform, urging users to contact the startup before extending invitations to prominent figures.

The company's stance was clear: heads of state were not permitted to participate in the beta phase. 

However, in February of this year, Bluesky made a pivotal move by opening up its platform for anyone to sign up, transitioning from its exclusive invite-only mode that had been in place for nearly a year. 

Despite facing early moderation challenges, including issues with racial slurs in handles, Bluesky has been actively addressing user concerns, particularly regarding hate speech. 

In response to these challenges, Bluesky implemented moderation lists and automated moderation tools last December. 

Additionally, it introduced the Ozone tool just last month, enabling users to create their own moderation and labelling services, thereby empowering them to take control of their online experience. 

In contrast to Bluesky, its rival Threads has distanced itself from actively promoting political content. 

Nevertheless, Bluesky users have the autonomy to navigate various political discussions without relying on a central algorithm, as they have the option to subscribe to different feeds tailored to their interests and preferences.