Bluesky announced on Monday that it is officially launching a blue check verification system, confirming longstanding rumors about this anticipated feature addition. Inspired by the original verification badge once popularized by Twitter, the new blue checks on Bluesky will serve to authenticate notable accounts and make it simpler for users to trust the legitimacy of posts they encounter.
Initially, this rollout will be restricted to a small group of selected “Trusted Verifiers”—independent parties authorized to verify certain accounts affiliated with them. These verifiers could include corporations, allowing them, for instance, to visually mark members of their public relations teams so that users can be certain of the authenticity of corporate communications.
The verification process that Bluesky will introduce involves an additional level of scrutiny, with the platform’s moderation team responsible for verifying each new blue-check confirmation individually. Prior to this feature, Bluesky users had the option of using domain-based verification, associating their usernames directly with websites they own. This existing domain authentication—such as an official company domain tied to the organization’s Bluesky account—has already resulted in around 270,000 users verifying their identities with existing web domains.
Despite domain verification proving useful for many, Bluesky noted in its announcement that users consistently requested a more visible form of verification to readily distinguish authentic high-profile accounts from potential imposters. With the new visual blue checks, the platform aims to minimize impersonation issues, particularly among celebrities, journalists, politicians, and other public figures vulnerable to misinformation campaigns.
At the moment, Bluesky is not open for public verification requests but stated that it plans to offer an application form at an unspecified point in the future.
