Bluesky is cracking down on parody accounts and impersonators

Bluesky Social is implementing stricter measures against parody accounts and impersonators as the platform experiences a surge in users. The decentralized social media site announced that while parody, satire, or fan accounts are permitted, they must clearly identify themselves in both their display name and bio to avoid confusion. This move aims to address the issue of "identity churning," where accounts create impersonation profiles to gain followers before rebranding. The need for these changes is underscored by a report indicating that 44% of the top 100 most-followed accounts on Bluesky have at least one impersonator. Bluesky's unique verification process, which relies on users self-verifying through custom domain names, has contributed to the rise of copycat accounts. Major accounts, such as the New York Times, utilize their own domains instead of the default Bluesky handles, leading to complications like "handle squatting," where users must retain old accounts to prevent impersonation. These developments highlight the challenges Bluesky faces in maintaining authenticity and trust as it grows in popularity.

- Bluesky is tightening policies on parody and impersonation accounts.

- Parody accounts must clearly label themselves to avoid confusion.

- 44% of top accounts on Bluesky have impersonators.

- The platform's self-verification process has led to increased copycat accounts.

- Handle squatting is a new issue as users try to protect their identities.