Bluesky has announced sweeping updates to its Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and other key policies, marking one of the platform’s most significant governance changes since its 2023 launch. The social network, which competes with X, Threads, and decentralized platforms like Mastodon, says the revisions aim to clarify safety procedures, expand detail on appeals, and align with new online safety regulations worldwide.
The changes are partly driven by compliance with laws such as the U.K.’s Online Safety Act, the EU’s Digital Services Act, and the U.S.’s TAKE IT DOWN Act. These require measures like age assurance for adult content, which in the U.K. may involve ID scans, facial recognition, or payment card verification.
Bluesky is also introducing an “informal dispute resolution process2, where the company will offer to speak directly with users before formal action – an approach that contrasts with larger social networks’ more opaque enforcement practices. In another unusual step for the industry, users will have the option to bring certain harm claims to court instead of being limited to arbitration.
The updated Community Guidelines, open for user feedback until October 15, 2025, center on four principles: Safety First, Respect Others, Be Authentic, and Follow the Rules. They prohibit illegal activity, harassment, doxxing, sexualization of minors, and other harmful content, while allowing for exceptions in journalism, parody, and satire.
Bluesky’s moderation history has faced scrutiny, including past tensions with marginalized communities and recent criticism over political leanings. The new rules attempt to balance user-driven moderation tools with company oversight, a tension that has defined much of the platform’s evolution.
Revised Privacy and Copyright Policies, set to take effect September 15, will address global requirements on user data rights, retention, and takedown procedures. These changes will not be subject to public feedback.
