Bluesky updates community guidelines ahead of October 15 implementation

Bluesky announced on August 14, 2025, comprehensive updates to its community guidelines, terms of service, and privacy policies, marking the platform's most significant policy overhaul since launching two years ago. The enhanced guidelines will take effect October 15, following a community feedback period that closes August 28.

The updated community guidelines establish four core principles that organize content moderation: Safety First, Respect Others, Be Authentic, and Follow the Rules. Each principle includes specific examples of permitted and prohibited content, addressing gaps identified during the platform's rapid growth from 40,000 to over 13 million users.

"We believe the best policies are created in partnership with the people they serve," the company stated in its announcement. "Our draft Guidelines incorporate lessons from our community's growth and feedback, and your input will help us ensure they're ready to support Bluesky's future."

According to the updated guidelines, the Safety First principle prohibits content depicting violence, encouraging self-harm, sexualizing minors, or violating privacy through unauthorized sharing of personal information. The guidelines specify that users cannot share "home addresses, contact info, financial or medical data, or government-issued IDs" without consent.

The platform expanded its harm categories to align with international regulations, specifically the UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act, and US TAKE IT DOWN Act. These regulatory requirements drove the need for clearer enforcement procedures and appeals processes detailed in the updated guidelines.

Bluesky's approach differs significantly from traditional social media platforms through its emphasis on user choice and decentralized moderation. The platform previously released Ozone, an open-source moderation tool that enables communities and developers to create independent moderation services beyond Bluesky's default system.

The Respect Others principle addresses harassment, bullying, and hate speech targeting individuals based on "race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected traits." The guidelines explicitly prohibit "deepfakes" and "nudify" applications designed to exploit individuals.

Authenticity requirements under the Be Authentic principle target deceptive practices including identity misrepresentation, voter suppression, and false political information. The guidelines prohibit "identity churning," defined as switching identities after gaining followers, and handle-squatting with misleading names or biographies.

The Follow the Rules section encompasses legal compliance, addressing illegal content, sexual exploitation, and platform misuse. The guidelines specifically prohibit any "content that depicts, simulates, or is AI-generated CSAM (child sexual abuse material)" including illustrated or animated depictions.

Enhanced enforcement procedures introduce a progressive moderation model aligned with regulatory requirements. According to the guidelines, violations may result in content hiding, removal, labeling, account suspension, permanent bans, or reports to authorities "in extreme cases."

The updated terms of service introduce significant changes to eligibility and age assurance sections, responding to online safety regulations including the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, UK Online Safety Act, and EU Digital Services Act. The platform previously implemented age verification systems for UK users through Epic Games' Kids Web Services.

Dispute resolution procedures receive substantial attention in the new terms, providing users greater control during disagreements. The updated framework requires informal resolution attempts, including phone conversations, before proceeding to formal dispute processes. Users can choose arbitration panels with each party selecting one arbitrator and those two selecting a third.

Privacy policy updates enhance transparency around data subject rights under EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation requirements. The policy clarifies international data transfer safeguards and strengthens deletion procedures despite limitations imposed by the platform's decentralized architecture.

Copyright policy changes streamline takedown procedures for compliance with the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act and similar international laws. The updated policy includes mechanisms to deter fraudulent takedown misuse and aligns transparency reporting with regulatory requirements.

Bluesky's moderation evolution reflects the platform's commitment to user-controlled experiences while meeting regulatory obligations. The company has consistently introduced features addressing community feedback, including video sharing capabilities, enhanced notification controls, and anti-toxicity measures.

The guidelines introduce detailed labeler guidelines governing organizations operating content classification services. Labelers must "keep labels straightforward and non-abusive" and "provide labeling guidance that is impartial and based on clear, observable content and behavior." The framework prohibits using labels for harassment or accepting compensation for specific labeling actions.

Developer guidelines establish requirements for applications building on Bluesky's AT Protocol. Developer applications must include reporting mechanisms for illegal content, blocking systems for forbidden content, and methods for removing user-requested content. Developers must maintain updated contact information and respond appropriately to violation reports.

The regulatory compliance requirements represent a significant shift for Bluesky, which positioned itself as an alternative to traditional platform governance models. The company's decentralized architecture initially emphasized user control and data portability, concepts that must now reconcile with centralized verification and moderation requirements.

Platform growth has accelerated throughout 2024 and 2025, with the company opening registration to all users after maintaining an invite-only system. The expanded user base created new challenges for content moderation and safety enforcement across the decentralized network.

The updated guidelines establish clear boundaries for journalism, education, and artistic expression. Content involving "factual reporting, academic research, or educational content about criminal acts, violence, mental health, online safety, youth risks, or public interest issues" remains permitted under specific conditions.

Artistic and fictional expression receives protection under the guidelines, allowing "depictions of violence or sensitive topics in fiction, art, or historical documentation" when appropriately labeled and not glorifying harm. The framework permits "internationally recognized art containing non-sexualized images of minors."

Mental health and recovery discussions receive explicit support under the safety guidelines. Users can share "personal experiences with recovery, therapy, or surviving violence, shared to raise awareness or foster support" along with "support group discussions and general mental health resource sharing."

The reporting system enhancement includes multiple pathways for users to flag violations. Community members can report posts, accounts, or direct messages through in-app features, while developer application violations require email reporting to support@bsky.app. Third-party application standards fall under separate developer guidelines.

Implementation timelines vary across the policy updates. Community guidelines take effect October 15 following the August 28 feedback deadline, while terms of service, privacy policy, and copyright policy changes implement September 15. The staggered approach allows the platform to incorporate community input into the most user-facing policies.

The initiative reflects broader trends in social media regulation as governments worldwide implement requirements for platform safety measures. Decentralized platforms face unique challenges reconciling regulatory compliance with user control principles, particularly regarding age verification and content moderation.

For marketing professionals, these changes signal a maturing platform with established governance frameworks suitable for brand engagement. The enhanced safety measures and regulatory compliance position Bluesky as a viable alternative for organizations seeking decentralized social media presence while maintaining content standards.

The community feedback process represents a significant opportunity for stakeholders to influence platform governance before implementation. Users can submit comments through the feedback form linked in the announcement, with all input considered during the final policy development phase.

Timeline

• December 24, 2023: Bluesky unveiled new logo and public web view
• February 9, 2024: Bluesky opened registration to all users
• February 17, 2024: Bluesky announced plans for clickable hashtags
• March 17, 2024: Bluesky released Ozone open-source moderation tools
• May 9, 2024: Bluesky unveiled product roadmap focused on user experience
• July 7, 2025: Bluesky launched granular notification controls
• July 15, 2025: Bluesky implemented age verification for UK users
• August 14, 2025: Bluesky announced community guidelines and policy updates
• August 28, 2024: Bluesky introduced anti-toxicity features
• September 11, 2024: Bluesky launched video sharing capabilities
• August 28, 2025: Community feedback deadline for new guidelines
• September 15, 2025: New terms of service, privacy policy, and copyright policy take effect
• October 15, 2025: Updated community guidelines take effect

PPC Land explains

Community Guidelines: Bluesky's comprehensive set of rules governing user behavior and content standards on the platform. These guidelines establish four core principles—Safety First, Respect Others, Be Authentic, and Follow the Rules—that define acceptable conduct. The updated version represents a significant evolution from the platform's previous policies, incorporating lessons learned during rapid user growth and regulatory requirements from multiple jurisdictions.

AT Protocol: The Authenticated Transfer Protocol serves as the decentralized foundation underlying Bluesky's social networking infrastructure. This open-source protocol enables multiple applications and services to interoperate while maintaining user control over data and identity. The AT Protocol distinguishes Bluesky from traditional centralized platforms by allowing users to migrate between services and choose their preferred algorithms for content curation.

Regulatory Compliance: The legal framework requirements driving many of Bluesky's policy updates, encompassing the UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act, and US legislation including COPPA and the TAKE IT DOWN Act. These regulations mandate specific safety measures, age verification systems, content moderation procedures, and user rights protections that platforms must implement to operate within respective jurisdictions.

Content Moderation: The systematic process of reviewing, labeling, and potentially removing user-generated content that violates platform policies. Bluesky's approach emphasizes user choice through stackable moderation services, allowing individuals and communities to customize their experience beyond the platform's default guidelines. This decentralized model represents a departure from traditional top-down moderation systems.

Safety Measures: Comprehensive protections designed to prevent harm to users, particularly minors, including restrictions on violent content, harassment prevention, privacy protection, and exploitation prevention. The updated guidelines expand these measures to address emerging threats such as AI-generated content and deepfake technology while maintaining space for legitimate educational and artistic expression.

User Control: The fundamental principle underlying Bluesky's platform design, empowering individuals to make choices about their social media experience rather than relying on algorithmic decisions made by the platform. This includes the ability to select moderation services, customize feeds, control notifications, and maintain data portability across the decentralized network.

Enforcement Procedures: The structured approach to addressing policy violations, featuring progressive consequences that escalate based on severity and frequency of infractions. The updated procedures align with regulatory requirements while providing clear appeals processes and user rights protections, including informal dispute resolution mechanisms and arbitration options.

Age Verification: Technical and procedural systems designed to confirm user ages, particularly to restrict minors' access to adult content and comply with child safety regulations. Bluesky's implementation varies by jurisdiction, with specific requirements for UK users through partnership with Epic Games' Kids Web Services while maintaining the platform's commitment to privacy and user control.

Decentralized Architecture: The technical foundation that distributes control and data across multiple servers and services rather than centralizing them within a single company's infrastructure. This architecture enables user choice, data portability, and algorithmic transparency while creating unique challenges for regulatory compliance and content moderation that traditional platforms do not face.

Platform Growth: The rapid expansion of Bluesky's user base from 40,000 to over 13 million users, driving the need for enhanced policies, safety measures, and infrastructure scaling. This growth pattern reflects broader shifts in social media preferences toward platforms offering greater user control and transparency compared to traditional centralized networks.

Summary

Who: Bluesky Social, PBC announced the policy updates, with input from the platform's Trust & Safety department and product teams working to incorporate community feedback.

What: Comprehensive updates to community guidelines, terms of service, privacy policy, and copyright policy featuring enhanced safety measures, regulatory compliance requirements, clearer enforcement procedures, and expanded user rights.

When: Announced August 14, 2025, with community feedback accepted through August 28, terms and policies effective September 15, and community guidelines implementing October 15.

Where: The updates apply to the Bluesky social networking application, website, and services operating on the AT Protocol, affecting users globally with specific provisions for EU, UK, and US regulatory compliance.

Why: The updates address platform growth from 40,000 to over 13 million users, regulatory requirements from the UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act, and US legislation, plus community feedback identifying areas for improved clarity and safety measures.