Bluesky, a social networking startup, is gearing up for Election Day in the U.S. amidst X’s pro-Trump stance. With the platform attracting disgruntled former Twitter users who are not in favor of the platform’s new direction, Bluesky is positioning itself as a trusted, fact-checked alternative to X, which is dominated by Elon Musk’s support for the Trump campaign.
As the U.S. elections draw closer, Bluesky faces its biggest challenge yet – handling potential misinformation that could mislead users during this critical national event. This includes posts that may aim to disrupt the voting process or leverage new technologies like AI to confuse the voting public.
Unlike Meta’s Threads app, which has steered clear of politics, Bluesky has embraced real-time social networking that prioritizes political discussions. The recent changes to X’s block function have upset some users, potentially leading to an influx of users switching to Bluesky.
To oversee its election operations, Bluesky has brought on board Aaron Rodericks, a former Twitter leader with experience in managing election safety. Rodericks and his team are preparing to review content for misinformation and other unconfirmed reports and claims related to the U.S. presidential election.
Bluesky’s Safety team has outlined its plans for election safety, encouraging users to report misleading or urgent content. The platform will prioritize election-related reported posts and remove content that encourages disruption in voting processes. Posts with misleading claims about voting will be labeled, and unconfirmed reports related to the election will also be identified.
The company’s moderation efforts extend beyond Election Day, aiming to address any disruptions to the peaceful transition of power. Bluesky has the flexibility for users to run their own Bluesky server and subscribe to multiple moderation services to customize their feed.
With additional hires, the Bluesky moderation team is expanding to accommodate the growing user base. CEO Jay Graber hinted at the team’s size, emphasizing the importance of moderation and support in maintaining a safe online environment.
Bluesky’s approach to moderation and commitment to user-driven experiences set it apart from other platforms. By empowering users to shape their own online experiences, the platform aims to provide a more transparent and customizable social networking environment. As Election Day approaches, Bluesky remains focused on ensuring election safety and combating misinformation to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.