Getting set up on Bluesky

The “billionaire-proof” platform, Bluesky has quickly become a go-to space for those looking for a Twitter replacement. Built with intentionality around safety and moderation, the platform offers better default settings and fewer tradeoffs than the other social media giants you’re likely familiar with. The open protocol that makes Bluesky billionaire-proof also gives users more flexibility and control over their experience.

As you get set up on Bluesky, Block Party is here to help you fine-tune your settings, take advantage of built-in features, and get the most out of your new digital space.

What Block Party is (and what it’s not)
Quick heads up in case you’ve used Block Party before May 2023: our original product was built on the web for Twitter and offered tools like auto-muting, block filters, and advanced moderation capabilities. Unfortunately, changes to Twitter’s API made that version of Block Party obsolete. Today’s version is something new – a browser extension that helps users update their privacy and security settings and clean up their content across 12+ platforms, including Bluesky.

What should I set up first?

⚙️ Your settings

Although there’s a relatively short list of settings to optimize (which is great), you’ll want to do a quick review to ensure the privacy and security of your account. A few quick adjustments can help keep you secure and reduce unwanted interactions. Key recommendations include:

• Turn on two-factor authentication to protect against account takeovers
• Verify your domain to confirm your identity and prevent impersonation
• Manage interaction settings to limit who can message you or engage with your content

🛡️ Your moderation tools

Bluesky has robust built-in moderation tools that are worth taking advantage of whether you’re trying to limit harassment, avoid certain topics, or create a feed that’s more manageable.

Bluesky’s approach to moderation is decentralized and customizable, giving you the option to apply your own filters, rely on trusted communities, or combine both for maximum protection. These tools include:

• Keyword and tag muting to block specific phrases or topics from your feed
• Moderation lists that let you subscribe to pre-built block or mute lists
• Moderation services for additional filtering

🔧 Your feed

One of the things people love about Bluesky is how much control you have over your feed. Instead of being stuck with a default “Following” or “For You” timeline, users can customize their feed algorithm based on specific content, keywords or post frequency.

Hoping to see more posts from “Quiet Posters” so your feed isn’t overrun by the most active accounts? There’s a feed for that. Prefer a feed full of cat pics? That exists too. We’ll point you towards where you can:

• Explore custom feeds to tailor your feed to your interests
• Organize your homepage to highlight what you care about
• Try out Bluesky’s starter packs to follow groups of users you may be interested in in bulk

🧹 Your content

If you’ve jumped feet first into the politics frenzy of Bluesky, and are posting prolifically about heated or controversial topics, you might prefer to keep only a rolling window of recent posts on your profile. Even if that’s not your situation, there are plenty of reasons you might not want a long backlog of content to accumulate.

Whatever your reason, Block Party’s content cleanup tool supports bulk deletion of posts to make it easier to review your content on a regular basis. Use it to:

• Delete posts before a certain date to keep only recent content visible
• Delete everything to start from scratch and minimize your digital footprint

As you review your content, it’s worth noting that Bluesky doesn’t permanently delete removed content right away. Think of it like your computer’s trash bin: deleted items can stick around in limbo before they’re fully gone. You can learn more on Bluesky’s FAQ, here.

Additionally, because Bluesky is built on an open protocol, posts can be pulled, scraped, and copied more easily than on closed platforms. Even if you delete something on Bluesky, it may have already been saved elsewhere.

Get Block Party for Bluesky

Install the Block Party browser extension to scan your Bluesky settings, review the built-in features, and get access to content cleanup tools.