Bluesky Expands User Base to 40 Million, Introduces Dislikes Beta

Bluesky has recently announced that it now serves 40 million active users, marking a notable expansion for a platform built on decentralized ideals. With this growth comes a series of updates aimed at improving user experience and fostering more meaningful interactions. Among the most discussed is the introduction of a “dislikes” feature in beta testing. This tool allows users to signal content they wish to see less of, which the platform says will influence how posts appear in feeds and replies. Alongside this, Bluesky is refining its design, testing new ranking systems, and rolling out a “social neighborhoods” mapping system that prioritizes conversations between users who frequently interact.

These changes reflect a broader effort to give individuals greater control over their digital environments. Features like moderation lists, content filters, and the ability to mute specific words help users manage unwanted interactions. The platform also now allows users to detach quote posts, reducing the risk of being drawn into public disputes or targeted by online aggression. These tools are not perfect, but they represent a move toward empowering individuals to shape their own online spaces rather than relying on opaque, corporate-driven moderation.

The platform’s focus on user-driven settings stands in contrast to some larger social networks, where algorithmic chaos and poorly structured feeds often frustrate users. Bluesky’s attempt to promote thoughtful engagement—such as directing users to full threads before replying and giving users more control over who can respond to their posts—suggests a deliberate effort to reduce noise and encourage deeper dialogue.

Yet beneath these improvements lies a deeper question: what does it truly mean to have control in a digital age? While tools like dislikes and social neighborhoods may feel empowering, they also reflect a growing reliance on systems that curate our experiences. When a platform encourages us to hide content we disagree with, or to engage only with like-minded individuals, we risk narrowing our perspectives. The comfort of a curated feed can become a cage.

History shows that communities thrive not by avoiding conflict, but by learning to engage with difference. The Christian tradition, for example, has long emphasized the value of dialogue, even with those who hold opposing views. The early church did not retreat from disagreement—it wrestled with it in the light of truth. Today’s digital culture often rewards retreat, not confrontation. The fear of being labeled or canceled can lead to self-censorship, even when we are not speaking against the truth.

Bluesky’s innovations may make social media feel more manageable, but they also risk reinforcing habits that weaken our ability to think critically. When algorithms learn from our dislikes and guide us toward familiar voices, we may lose the discipline of wrestling with ideas that challenge us. True freedom is not found in avoiding discomfort, but in facing it with clarity and conviction.

The goal should not be to build better filters, but to strengthen the inner character that allows us to navigate complexity. It is not the platform that must change—it is the user. We must cultivate the patience to listen, the courage to question, and the integrity to speak even when it is unpopular.

In this light, Bluesky’s progress is not a solution, but a reminder. The tools we use shape our habits. The choices we make online influence how we think and relate to others. A decentralized platform can offer more freedom than centralized ones, but only if users remain vigilant. The real challenge is not in the design of the software, but in the quality of our engagement with it.

We do not need more systems that protect us from disagreement. We need more people willing to stand for truth, even when it is unpopular. The future of public discourse depends not on better algorithms, but on stronger character. And that begins not with a new feature, but with a decision to stay present, to listen deeply, and to speak with grace and conviction.

Published: 11/1/2025