Bluesky finally begins beta testing trending topics feature

Bluesky has officially started beta testing a trending topics feature, aiming to enhance user engagement on its rapidly growing platform. The feature, announced on Christmas Day, is available across both desktop and mobile apps. On desktop, users can spot trending topics in the right-hand sidebar, while mobile users can access them by tapping the search button.

Merry Christmas from us to you 🎄🎁💙 We launched Trending Topics today, and you can find it by tapping the search icon on the bottom bar of the app or the right sidebar on desktop.

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— Bluesky (@bsky.app) December 26, 2024 at 6:39 AM

Currently, it’s all in English and respects your mute settings, so those annoying topics you’ve muted won’t clutter your trending list. If trending isn’t your thing, you can turn it off in the app’s settings under Content and Media by unchecking “Enable trending topics.”

This is just the beginning, with more enhancements on the way. With over 25 million users now, Bluesky is hitting some impressive numbers for a decentralized network that’s been picking up speed since it started.

It’s worth noting that some third-party apps like Greysky had already jumped on the trending bandwagon last year. But Bluesky’s official launch seems to be a strategic move against competitors like Threads, which rolled out its own version earlier this year in the U.S. and later in Japan. Bluesky, however, is going global with its beta test, underlining its commitment to an inclusive, accessible platform.

This comes on the heels of several big moves for Bluesky, including new domain verification to stop impersonation, a clear no-AI-training-with-our-data policy, and toying with the idea of a subscription model. With a $1 million grant from the Skyseed fund aimed at privacy and AI projects, Bluesky’s making it clear that it means serious business.