Bluesky adds blue checks for verification, like the Twitter of old

Bluesky is introducing new ways to recognize genuine, verified accounts on the social media platform.

According to an official update on Bluesky’s blog, certain accounts will now get a blue checkmark next to their names.

Bluesky will also let “select independent organizations” verify accounts of their employees directly, with one example being the New York Times which can now issue blue ticks to its journalists.

Users will be able to see which organization granted the mark to a user by tapping on a verified account’s blue check.

The new scheme echoes the blue checkmark verification system that Twitter had before Elon Musk bought the platform, renamed it X, and made checkmarks available to anyone who paid for a Twitter Blue subscription.

Bluesky did not share exact criteria as to which accounts can get a blue checkmark, besides saying it will proactively verify “authentic and notable” accounts.

This is another layer of verification on top of Bluesky’s verified domain system, which allows individuals and organizations to set their domain as their user name. This is still available to all users.

As for the blue checks, Bluesky said in its update the platform is currently not accepting direct applications for verification; instead, it will launch a request form for notable and authentic accounts which are interested in becoming verified and/or trusted verifiers.