Bluesky, the social network, announced on Friday that it now has 40 million users and plans to test a new “dislike” feature soon. This update aims to improve how the platform personalizes content on its Discover feed and other sections.
Alongside this, Bluesky introduced several conversation control updates, including better detection of toxic comments, changes to how replies appear, and new tools that make conversations feel more relevant and enjoyable. The goal is to create a space for more genuine, respectful, and fun interactions.
With the new “dislike” option, users can signal the type of posts they don’t want to see. The system will learn from this feedback, adjusting not only what shows up in their feeds but also which replies appear higher in discussions. Instead of focusing on bans or heavy moderation, Bluesky wants to give users more tools to shape their own experience.
The platform already allows users to use moderation lists to block groups, apply content filters, mute words, and even subscribe to outside moderation services. Users can also detach quote posts to avoid drawing unwanted attention—a feature designed to discourage the toxic “dunking” culture that became common on X (formerly Twitter).
Beyond dislikes, Bluesky is testing new ranking methods, design tweaks, and feedback tools to make conversations more meaningful. One upcoming feature will map out what it calls “social neighborhoods,” which represent the clusters of users who interact frequently. By prioritizing replies from people closer to a user’s own “neighborhood,” Bluesky hopes to make conversations feel more familiar and connected.
This approach could solve a major issue that Meta’s Threads faced, where users often saw random posts and replies from people they didn’t follow, making it hard to follow conversations.
Bluesky says its latest model now better detects replies that are toxic, spammy, off-topic, or made in bad faith. These types of responses will appear lower in threads, search results, and notifications.
The platform also adjusted the Reply button so it opens the full conversation before users respond. This encourages people to read through discussions before posting, helping reduce repetitive or misplaced comments.
Bluesky hopes these small but steady improvements will make the platform a more engaging and respectful social space as it continues to grow.
