Bluesky Rolls Out Update with Mentions Tab, Username Squatting Protection, and Reply Sorting Controls
Bluesky has launched a new update (v1.96) with several notable features, including a separate mentions tab in notifications, measures to prevent username squatting, and new reply sorting options.
The update introduces a dedicated mentions tab, allowing users to easily view posts where they are mentioned, rather than having all notifications in one feed.
In addition, Bluesky is implementing protections against username squatting by reserving your original Bluesky username (with the .bsky.social suffix) if you switch to a custom domain. This reserved username is non-expiring and prevents others from claiming it.
This move comes in response to issues with impersonation, where individuals would purchase domain names or usernames associated with popular people to claim their identity, especially before they joined the platform. The update ensures that your original username remains secure even if you choose to use a custom domain.
Bluesky is also enhancing its reply display functionality. Users now have the option to view replies in either a linear or threaded format, and can sort them by criteria such as hottest, oldest, newest, most liked, or random.
Furthermore, the platform is expanding its language support to include Nepali, Khmer, and Romanian, as it continues to grow its user base beyond 25 million.
