Bluesky users create a block list for all things related to MAGA and Trump

Bluesky is having its moment. In just a week, the platform added over 3 million users, pushing its total past 19 million. It’s a dizzying climb for a service many see as a refuge from the chaos of X (formerly Twitter). But this surge has also brought some familiar baggage: the very groups users were trying to leave behind on Elon Musk’s turf are tagging along for the ride. Enter: the block list.

me watching Bluesky's user count grow by another million in a day

hello and welcome to all 19M of you! 🥳

[image or embed]

— Bluesky (@bsky.app) November 18, 2024 at 5:51 AM

The wave of new users has been spurred in part by widespread dissatisfaction with X — be it Musk’s unpredictable leadership, advertising overreach, or just the general chaos. But with so many disillusioned users fleeing to Bluesky, it’s no surprise that a few less-welcome personalities are also making the leap. Specifically, Donald Trump, MAGA-aligned accounts and other controversial figures have started cropping up. For many new arrivals, the solution is clear: block them out entirely.

Bluesky’s tools for handling unwelcome content have been put to the test like never before. Just recently, the platform hit an all-time high of over 42,000 moderation reports in a single day — around 3,000 per hour. To compare, that’s about a third of the total reports the platform received in all of 2023. The Bluesky team has emphasized its commitment to quickly addressing harmful content like CSAM, but users are also taking matters into their own hands to maintain the space they want.

One notable innovation? A user-curated MAGA block list. Subscribing to the list lets users automatically block or mute accounts that signal support for Trump or use hashtags like #MAGA or #TRUMP2024. The feature has been met with enthusiasm by users who want a more peaceful feed. Some have called the process seamless and are encouraging others to subscribe to similar lists, such as one targeting right wing propaganda and their followers.

The idea behind these block lists is simple: to build a healthier community by silencing voices they feel add toxicity. Unlike the constant bickering and engagement traps on X, Bluesky users are taking a different approach — freezing out problematic accounts by refusing to engage with them entirely. It’s a bold strategy that capitalizes on Bluesky’s user-friendly moderation tools, allowing users to block or mute en masse with just a few clicks.

Meanwhile, forums like the Bluesky subreddit are buzzing with discussions about how to deal with the influx of new users and trolls. Many advocate for disengagement as the ultimate tool, arguing that the less attention disruptive accounts get, the sooner they’ll leave. Others celebrate the platform’s moderation rules, noting that hate speech and harassment aren’t tolerated like they often were on X.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Some are questioning whether this strategy is sustainable or risks creating echo chambers. Others are concerned about the sheer scale of moderation needed as Bluesky continues to grow at a breakneck pace. For now, however, many users are simply enjoying the reprieve from the chaos they left behind, confident in their ability to shape Bluesky into the platform they want it to be.

As Bluesky looks to the future, it faces the challenge of balancing explosive growth with maintaining a positive user experience. The block list approach may not be a perfect solution, but for now, it’s giving users the control they crave. Whether that will be enough as the platform continues to expand remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure — Bluesky isn’t X, and its community is determined to keep it that way.