Bluesky introduced significant enhancements to its notification system on Monday, enabling users greater flexibility and control over their interactions on the platform. With this update, users can now customize notifications to fit personal preferences, simplify their notification feed, and reduce unwanted alerts.
The new features allow users to specifically tailor activity notifications from selected accounts. Notifications can be individually managed for various interactions, including new followers, likes, mentions, replies, quotes, and reposts, through the Settings menu under Notifications. Users are given the choice to enable these alerts universally, restrict them to accounts they follow, or turn them off completely.
Additionally, an “Everything Else” option groups general notifications such as alerts about verified accounts or notifications triggered when someone starts using Bluesky through a Starter Pack.
Users who primarily share reposted content were also considered, as the update offers alerts when someone likes or reposts their shared content. This change is designed to enhance user engagement and increase interaction for these accounts.
To streamline its offerings, Bluesky announced it is phasing out the “priority notifications” feature, which previously filtered notifications to include only updates from accounts that a user follows. Similar functionality can still be achieved in the new system by adjusting the reply, mention, and quote notifications to “people you follow only.”
Another major addition is the new activity notification tool, similar to those available on social networks like X and Threads. With this tool, users can receive immediate alerts when selected accounts post or reply. To activate these alerts, users simply need to visit the desired profile and click on the bell icon next to the follow button. Users also have the discretion to manage and revise these notification settings anytime from their account preferences.
However, Bluesky clarified one limitation: Account owners have the ability to disable this feature entirely, thereby preventing others from receiving such activity notifications. Alternatively, account owners can set these notifications so only their own followers receive updates about their activities.
