Bluesky Safety Settings

Bluesky safety settings help parents and eligible young people review public posts, direct messages and content moderation on Bluesky. This guide explains the controls available, their limitations and practical ways to support safer use.

Age Rating and Child Safety Warning

Bluesky’s Terms of Service require users to be at least 13 and meet applicable local eligibility requirements. The Irish Apple App Store rates Bluesky 16+. Those rules do not mean every public conversation suits a teenager.

Regional age assurance may limit features or adult content. The Bluesky privacy policy lists possible document, facial age estimation and other methods depending on location. Bluesky says it does not retain vendor facial images or biometric data. Read the provider’s own notice too. Irish availability and provider retention still require checking. An age check does not establish trustworthiness.

Restrictions Available

Limit who can send direct messages

Choose a smaller messaging audience rather than allowing all users to approach privately.

• Open the Chat icon at the bottom of the mobile app or in the website sidebar.
• Open the Settings within the message screen.
• Choose No one for no new direct contact, or People you follow for selected contacts.
• Review the accounts you follow before choosing that audience.

Why it matters: Following someone can open a message route. Muted users can still message you, while blocked users cannot. Official guidance

Review moderation choices

Bluesky uses labels and moderation preferences to hide or warn about particular content. Keep stronger defaults for a young person.

• On the website, open Moderation settings while signed in.
• Review content categories and select Hide or Warn rather than showing unwanted material.
• Review the Advanced section and the Bluesky Moderation Service labels.
• Recheck the feed and report harmful content that a label missed.

Why it matters: A label can miss a post or be incorrect. Additional moderation services also involve separate providers and choices. Official guidance

Filter words and tags

Muted words can reduce unwanted topics appearing in posts, including their text and image descriptions.

• Open Moderation settings.
• Select Muted words & tags.
• Add the word or tag you want to filter and choose whether it applies to tags or the full post.
• Save the choice and check it when your feed changes.

Why it matters: Word filters reduce matching material. However, different spelling or an unlabelled image can still get through. Official guidance

Report a harmful public post

A report asks Bluesky moderators to assess a post against the platform rules.

• Open the harmful Post.
• Select its Three dot menu and the Report option.
• Choose the relevant reason and complete the displayed report prompts.
• Submit the report and avoid continuing an abusive exchange.

Why it matters: Moderation can address harmful content. However, a report does not promise immediate removal or replace urgent support. Official guidance

Report an abusive or impersonating account

Reporting an account helps identify a pattern across posts or a misleading identity.

• Open the person’s Profile.
• Select the profile’s Three dot menu and Report option.
• Choose the reason that best describes the concern.
• Complete the prompts with safe context and submit.

Why it matters: An account report concerns the broader profile. A familiar name does not prove identity, and reporting does not erase public copies. Official guidance

Hide an unwanted reply on your own thread

The thread creator can reduce the visibility of replies. Hidden replies remain accessible and the decision is public data.

• Open a conversation you started and find the unwanted Reply.
• Open the reply’s Three dot menu.
• Choose the option to Hide reply for everyone and confirm the displayed notice.

Why it matters: This reduces attention to an unwanted reply. It does not delete it or hide it from every independent client. The linked official material documents the feature. Official guidance

Detach your post from an unwanted quote

Detaching removes the displayed connection between your post and another person’s quote.

• Open the unwanted Quote post containing your own post.
• Open its Three dot menu.
• Select Detach quote and confirm the notice.

Why it matters: This can reduce harassment around a quotation. The detachment is public data, and the other person’s text or screenshots may remain. Official guidance

Filter reply, mention and quote notifications

New notification controls replaced the older priority notification switch. These Bluesky safety settings affect alerts rather than who can view your posts.

• Open Settings and choose Notifications.
• Review Replies, Mentions and Quotes.
• Select People you follow or No One for each unwanted alert category.
• Review the other categories and turn off unwanted Push notifications.

Why it matters: Fewer alerts reduce disruption. A muted alert still leaves the underlying public interaction visible. Official guidance

Review alerts from individual accounts

Activity notifications are an optional way to receive alerts about particular people.

• Open Settings, then Notifications.
• Select Activity Notifications.
• Review the listed accounts and remove unwanted activity alerts using the displayed controls.

Why it matters: This reduces repeated interruptions. It does not unfollow, block or restrict the listed accounts. Official guidance

Limit who can subscribe to alerts about your posts

You can limit the built in feature that sends others alerts about your activity.

• Open Settings.
• Select Privacy and Security, then Allow others to get notified of your posts.
• Disable this feature or limit it to People you follow.

Why it matters: This reduces instant attention through the app. Your public posts remain available, including to other tools and clients. Official guidance

Choose feeds deliberately

Feeds use different selection systems and can show different kinds of public content. A familiar topic does not guarantee a safe feed.

• Open My Feeds in the app menu, or use the official Feeds directory.
• Review the feed description and its creator before adding it.
• Choose a feed suited to the teenager’s interests and review sample posts together.
• Return to your moderation preferences if unsuitable material appears.

Why it matters: Feed choice shapes what you encounter. It does not replace content filters or guarantee that every selected post is appropriate. Official guidance

Keep your recovery email under your control

A working email address supports recovery and account deletion. Protect that mailbox with its own strong password and authentication.

• Open Settings, then Account and Update email.
• Enter an address you control and select Update email.
• If your existing address is verified, retrieve the confirmation code from that existing mailbox.
• Enter the code only in the official app and complete the confirmation.

Why it matters: An accessible mailbox reduces lost access. Email verification proves mailbox control, not the identity or safety of contacts. Official guidance

Recover access through the official sign in screen

Use the official recovery flow if you forget your password. Never give a recovery code to a person offering account repair.

• Open the official Sign in screen.
• Select Forgot and follow the account identification prompt.
• Retrieve the reset code from the email address linked to your account.
• Complete the reset in the official app with a new unique password.
• If the message does not arrive, use the support route in the linked official guidance.

Why it matters: A unique password limits reuse attacks. Recovery still depends on your mailbox and cannot retrieve accounts whose required ownership checks you cannot complete. Official guidance

Handle a missing authentication email safely

The current help centre documents email authentication codes. Older FAQ wording still describes authentication as a future feature.

• Check that the account’s Email address is correct.
• Look in your Spam, Junk and Promotions folders.
• Check that noreply@bsky.social is not blocked.
• Wait a few minutes before requesting another code through the official login screen.
• Use the linked official support route if delivery still fails.

Why it matters: This helps resolve a login problem without sharing codes with strangers. It does not enable authentication. The current activation menu and recovery alternatives still need account verification. Official guidance

Deactivate an account for a break

Deactivation is the reversible account option. It is different from deleting the account.

• Open Settings and select Account.
• Choose Deactivate.
• Read the notice and complete the confirmation when you intend to pause.
• Use the official sign in process if you later decide to reactivate.

Why it matters: A break can reduce pressure to participate. Deactivation does not recall public copies or prevent use through another account. Official guidance

Permanently delete the correct account

Account deletion is permanent. Obtain anything you need to keep first and check the handle carefully if you use several accounts.

• Open Settings and choose Account.
• Select Delete Account and check the displayed User handle.
• Choose Send Email.
• Find the deletion code in your linked mailbox, including the spam folder.
• Enter the code and complete the final prompts only if you intend permanent closure.

Why it matters: This closes the selected account. Independent services or other people can retain earlier public copies. Removing the app alone does not perform deletion. Official guidance

Bluesky Safety Settings and Why They Matter

Review Bluesky safety settings together, rather than treating one control as complete protection. Message restrictions do not make public posts private. Also, a moderation preference controls what you see rather than who can copy your posts.

For example, hiding content changes your viewing experience, while reporting asks the platform to investigate. Neither establishes that another person is trustworthy. Therefore, revisit choices when features or relationships change.

Blocking prevents interaction between the affected accounts, while muting changes what you see. Official public network guidance explains that posts, likes and blocks are public and private profiles are unavailable. Alternate accounts can still access public material. Exact current block and mute menu instructions remain under review.

How to Use Bluesky Safely

Treat posts and profile information as public. Avoid school timetables, home addresses and live locations. Even a blocking tool cannot make already shared public information secret.

Choose follows and custom feeds deliberately. For example, review who runs a feed or labelling service before adding it. Popularity and a familiar display name do not establish identity.

Keep a unique password and protect the email account used for recovery. Never give a login code or app password to someone claiming to fix your account. Official app password guidance describes a separate credential for other applications, though its older Advanced menu path needs current verification. Prefer a trusted application’s official authorisation flow and inspect its permissions.

Essential Safety Advice and Current Concerns

Public conversations can attract harassment, impersonation and investment scams. Verify important claims outside the feed and avoid urgent requests for money. Also, do not move a conversation elsewhere simply because a stranger asks.

A direct message is not a promise of confidentiality. The current privacy policy describes messages as unencrypted and accessible for safety investigations. Reports can include surrounding messages for review. Therefore, avoid sensitive family information in chats.

If someone pressures or threatens a young person, stop responding and seek help without blame. Keep safe details without forwarding sexual images involving children. Visit CODA’s helplines and support resources. In immediate danger, contact local emergency services.

Platform Support and Regional Differences

Bluesky’s public network uses the AT Protocol. Account deletion cannot force every independent service to remove earlier copies. Review the Terms of Service before expecting complete erasure.

The app, website and independent clients can offer different controls. Moderation labels and age assurance vary by region and release. Current Irish teen settings, parent linking, account blocking menus and authentication activation still need an eligible account check. Do not assume a parent dashboard or an enforced bedtime switch.

Safety Checklist

• Check the account minimum and separate 16+ store rating.
• Review Direct message permissions.
• Keep stronger Moderation defaults.
• Add relevant Muted words & tags.
• Treat posts and profile details as public.
• Protect your password and recovery email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these controls guarantee safety?

No. Controls reduce particular risks. However, they cannot prevent every harmful post, copied image or misleading approach. Keep regular conversations and agree how to seek help.

Does deleting the app close my account?

No. Removing the app leaves the account behind. Use the separate account deletion instructions above. If you bought a domain or a service through another provider, review that provider’s billing separately.

Should parents review the settings with teenagers?

Yes. Explain each choice and respect age requirements. Also, agree what information stays private and who the teenager can approach when something feels wrong.

Related CODA Guides

• Resources for Parents for family guidance.
• Video Guides for Parents and Children for practical learning.
• Helplines and Support Resources for further help.

References

Age and messaging sources

• Bluesky Terms of Service. Account age, eligibility and account closure limits.
• Irish Apple App Store: Bluesky. Separate 16+ store rating and device compatibility.
• Bluesky privacy policy. Public data, message privacy and regional age verification data.
• Bluesky direct messages. Message audiences, mute versus block and reporting access.
• Bluesky moderation screen. Direct access to moderation choices while signed in.

Moderation and conversation sources

• Official moderation labels. Hide, warn and adult content prerequisites.
• Official word filter guidance. Words, hashtags, post text and image descriptions.
• Moderation and Custom Feeds. Account and post report routes, filtering and feeds.
• Bluesky conversation protections. Hidden replies, quote detachment and public control data.
• Current Bluesky notification controls. Notification categories, activity alerts and subscriber choices.

Notifications and account sources

• Bluesky recovery email. Email change navigation and confirmation prerequisites.
• Bluesky password reset. Official reset code and support route.
• Authentication code delivery. Current email troubleshooting without invented activation steps.
• Account deactivation and deletion. Reversible break versus permanent deletion and email code.
• Bluesky public network guidance. Public profiles, likes and blocks, with older security wording.

Network and application sources

• Bluesky app password guidance. Separate credentials for other applications with an older menu path.

About Children of the Digital Age

Children of the Digital Age supports families, schools and communities through online safety education, training and practical guidance. Our guides help you discuss online experiences and build safer habits alongside platform controls.

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Last updated: 10 October 2026