Bluesky Opens Verification Applications for Notable Users, Introduces 'Trusted Verifiers'

Bluesky Embraces Verification: A New Era for Authenticity on the Decentralized Web

In a significant move towards establishing authenticity and trust on its burgeoning platform, Bluesky has officially opened applications for account verification. The decentralized social networking service, built on the AT Protocol, announced that "notable and authentic" accounts can now seek a coveted blue checkmark through a new online form. This development marks a pivotal moment for Bluesky, signaling its growth and its willingness to tackle complex issues surrounding identity and credibility in the digital sphere.

The announcement, made via the official Bluesky Safety account, details the process for individual accounts seeking verification. More notably, it introduces a novel concept: allowing organizations to apply to become "Trusted Verifiers." This mechanism is designed to distribute the authority of verification beyond Bluesky itself, aligning with the platform's underlying philosophy of decentralization. Bluesky had previously begun testing this Trusted Verifier feature with a select group of organizations, including prominent names like The New York Times, Wired, and The Athletic, indicating a deliberate, phased rollout.

Navigating the Complex Landscape of Social Media Verification

The introduction of a blue verification badge on Bluesky is met with mixed reactions from its user base. For many, the blue checkmark is inextricably linked to the culture of clout-chasing and perceived hierarchy that characterized platforms like Twitter (now X). On Twitter, verification evolved from a tool to confirm the identity of public figures and organizations into a status symbol, and more recently, a feature primarily associated with paid subscriptions under Elon Musk's ownership. This history has left some Bluesky users wary of any system that might create a two-tiered environment where some accounts are visually elevated over others.

However, Bluesky's approach appears to be more nuanced than simply replicating the models of centralized platforms. The platform emphasizes that the blue badge is just one facet of its broader strategy for establishing authenticity. Crucially, Bluesky has long supported and encouraged domain-based verification. This alternative method allows users to verify their identity by setting their username to match a domain they own, such as @npr.org. This self-verification method leverages existing web infrastructure and trust mechanisms, offering a decentralized path to proving identity without relying on a central authority's approval or a visual badge. As of the announcement, over 270,000 accounts had already adopted domain-based verification, demonstrating its popularity within the community.

The Criteria for Notability and the Role of Trusted Verifiers

While domain-based verification offers a clear, technical path to authenticity, the new application-based verification for the blue badge introduces the subjective concept of "notability." Bluesky's online form outlines some basic requirements for applicants:

The account must be active.
The account must be complete (including a bio, profile photo, etc.).
The account must be secure.
The account must represent a "real person, registered business, organization, or legitimate entity."
Applicants should link to any official website if one exists.

The challenge lies in defining and assessing "notability." Bluesky states that notable accounts must be significant within their "field and geographic region." The company will consider various indicators, including:

Professional recognition.
Media coverage in established publications.
Presence on credible reference platforms.
Other evidence of public interest.

The application form acknowledges the subjective nature of this assessment, stating, "We consider the overall context and public interest value of each account." Applicants are encouraged to provide links and evidence to support their claim of notability. However, the specific requirements for different categories of verification remain largely undocumented, adding a layer of ambiguity to the process.

The vetting process for these applications is also a point of interest. Bluesky has indicated that it will only respond to users whose accounts are selected for verification. This implies a manual review process, at least initially, to assess the submitted evidence and determine notability. The potential for a centralized team at Bluesky making these subjective decisions raises questions about how the platform will maintain its decentralized ethos while acting as a gatekeeper for the blue badge.

Image Credits: Bluesky

The Promise of Decentralized Verification: Trusted Verifiers

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Bluesky's verification rollout is the introduction of Trusted Verifiers. This system allows independent organizations to apply for the tools necessary to verify other accounts. By delegating verification authority to a network of trusted entities, Bluesky aims to move away from a single, centralized point of control over identity confirmation. This aligns with the core principles of the AT Protocol, which is designed to support a diverse ecosystem of services and applications built on shared data and protocols.

The idea is that users might eventually trust verification granted by, for example, a specific news organization, a professional association, or a community group, rather than solely relying on Bluesky Inc.'s judgment. This distributed model has the potential to create a more resilient and less politically charged verification system compared to centralized platforms, where a single company holds ultimate power over who gets verified and why.

However, the success of the Trusted Verifier program hinges on several factors:

**Establishing Trust in Verifiers:** How will Bluesky vet and select the organizations that become Trusted Verifiers? What criteria will they use, and how will they ensure these organizations are reliable and unbiased?
**User Adoption and Recognition:** Will users understand and trust verification granted by various third-party verifiers? How will the platform visually represent verification from different sources?
**Scalability:** Can this distributed model effectively handle the verification needs of a growing user base?

The initial testing phase with organizations like The New York Times and Wired suggests a focus on established institutions. Expanding this network to include a wider variety of organizations, potentially including community-based groups or specialized professional bodies, could further strengthen the decentralized nature of the system.

Comparing Bluesky's Approach to Other Platforms

Bluesky's verification strategy stands in stark contrast to the models employed by its competitors, particularly Twitter/X and Threads.

On **Twitter/X**, verification has undergone a dramatic transformation. What began as a system to authenticate high-profile accounts to combat impersonation evolved into a feature primarily tied to the paid subscription service, X Premium. While some legacy verified accounts still exist, the blue checkmark is now largely seen as an indicator of a paid subscriber rather than verified notability or identity. This shift has diluted the meaning of the badge and contributed to a perception of verification as a commodity rather than a mark of authenticity.

Meta's **Threads**, while integrated with Instagram's verification system, also largely ties its blue checkmark to a paid subscription service, Meta Verified. This approach, similar to X Premium, focuses on offering verification as a perk alongside other features like increased reach and support, rather than solely as a method for authenticating public figures or organizations based on external notability.

Bluesky, by offering both domain-based self-verification and application-based verification for notable accounts (with the promise of distributed Trusted Verifiers), is attempting to carve out a different path. It acknowledges the desire for a visual indicator of authenticity (the blue badge) but tries to decouple it from a purely paid model and, through Trusted Verifiers, from a single, central authority.

The Impact on Bluesky's Culture and the Future of Decentralized Identity

The introduction of the blue badge could inevitably impact Bluesky's culture. Some users fear it will replicate the status hierarchies they sought to escape from on other platforms. The timing of the announcement, arriving before a wide network of Trusted Verifiers is fully established, might reinforce the perception that Bluesky itself is initially acting as the central authority for verification, which could be seen as counter to its core principles.

However, the long-term vision of Trusted Verifiers holds the potential to mitigate these concerns. If the network of verifiers grows and diversifies, the blue badge could become less about a single platform's endorsement and more about validation from trusted communities or institutions. This aligns with the broader potential of the AT Protocol to support diverse forms of identity and reputation across different services built on the protocol.

The concept of decentralized identity and verification is still in its early stages. Projects like Deer.Social, a forked version of Bluesky, are experimenting with even more democratic approaches, allowing users to select who *they* trust as verifiers and see connections based on those trust relationships across the network. While Bluesky's current implementation is more structured, the underlying AT Protocol is designed to be flexible enough to support such innovations in the future.

Challenges and Outlook

Bluesky faces several challenges in implementing this new verification system:

**Defining and Consistently Applying Notability:** Subjectivity in assessing notability can lead to perceived unfairness or bias. Clearer guidelines and transparency in the process will be crucial.
**Scaling the Vetting Process:** As the platform grows, manually reviewing applications will become increasingly difficult.
**Onboarding Trusted Verifiers:** Building a robust and diverse network of reliable Trusted Verifiers will take time and effort.
**User Education:** Clearly communicating the different types of verification (domain vs. application vs. Trusted Verifier) and their meaning will be essential to avoid confusion and manage user expectations.

Despite these challenges, the move towards offering application-based verification and introducing Trusted Verifiers represents a significant step for Bluesky. It acknowledges the practical need for identity verification on a social platform, particularly for public figures and organizations, while attempting to innovate beyond the centralized, often problematic, models of its predecessors. By combining domain-based verification with a potentially decentralized blue badge system, Bluesky is exploring new ways to build trust and authenticity in the evolving landscape of decentralized social media.

The success of this initiative will ultimately depend on its implementation, the growth of the Trusted Verifier network, and how the Bluesky community adapts to and perceives the new system. It's a complex undertaking, but one that is necessary for a platform aiming to offer a credible alternative to the established social media giants.