Bluesky Verification: Blue Checkmarks Coming Soon?

Bluesky's Potential New Verification System

Recent modifications to the Bluesky application’s public GitHub repository, discovered on Friday by reverse engineer alice.mosphere.at, indicate an impending update to its verification process.

The anticipated blue checkmarks may visually resemble those initially implemented by Twitter, now known as X. However, the underlying functionality of Bluesky’s system appears to diverge significantly.

Decentralized Verification Approach

Codebase alterations suggest that Bluesky’s new system could leverage multiple organizations for the distribution of blue checkmarks. This implies a proactive verification of prominent accounts by Bluesky itself.

Furthermore, certain organizations may be designated as “trusted verifiers,” granting them the authority to independently issue blue checkmarks.

Announcement Timeline and Details

An announcement regarding these changes to Bluesky’s verification system is potentially scheduled for Monday. A link to a blog post, dated April 21, 2025, was found within Friday’s “verification” pull request.

CEO Jay Graber previously indicated the company’s intention to explore alternative verification methods, beyond self-verification through website linking.

Visual Indicators

The pull request reveals an icon – a blue circle enclosing a white checkmark – that will denote verified users. Trusted verifiers will be identified by scalloped blue circles containing a white checkmark on their profiles.

An image within Bluesky’s upcoming announcement hints at the potential for organizations like The New York Times, and other reputable news publishers, to gain the ability to verify users.

Users will be able to determine which organizations have granted verification by tapping on a user’s blue check.

Comparison to X's Verification System

Bluesky’s proposed verification method contrasts sharply with X’s current approach. Initially, X provided blue checks to authentic and popular accounts.

Subsequently, Elon Musk revised the system, restricting verification to users who subscribe to a monthly fee. While some influential, non-paying users have since received checks, paid verification remains an option.

Critics argue that X’s changes have diminished the significance of the blue checkmark, with reports of even bot accounts receiving verification.

Response and Future Implications

Bluesky has not yet responded to a request for comment from TechCrunch.

By distributing verification authority to multiple organizations, Bluesky is adopting a decentralized strategy. This could lead to a substantial increase in the number of verified users on the platform.

However, the practical implications of this approach remain to be seen.