Social media platform Bluesky lets users without an account read messages

The decentralized social media platform Bluesky now lets users read messages without having to log in to an account. An opt-out option has been added for users who do not want their posts to be viewed without an account.

It is only possible to create an account via an invitation from an existing Bluesky user, so for the first time users can also visit the platform without an invitation. To be able to post yourself or interact with other people’s posts, an account is still required. According to Bluesky CEO and former Twitter executive Jay Graber, this public web interface brings the platform one step closer to its goal of making it “a home for public conversations.”

If users do not want their posts to be shown to accountless users, they can opt out via the Moderation settings. Through other apps that use the underlying AT Protocol However, these posts may still be publicly accessible, the social media platform warns.

The update also makes it possible to follow posts from a Bluesky user in an RSS feed. In addition, the logo has been adjusted. The background of a cloudy sky has been replaced by an icon of a blue butterfly. Graber states that many accounts already used a butterfly emoji to indicate their Bluesky handle, and that is why the platform is now adopting that symbol.

Starting today, you don’t have to be logged in to view posts on Bluesky!

Early on, people started using the 🦋 emoji to indicate they were on Bluesky. We’ve now adopted it, as it speaks to our mission of transforming social into something new.

— bluesky (@bluesky) December 22, 2023