Hey folks, Nuked here! Today, I bring you some exciting news from the world of social media and tech. Bluesky is rolling out a new verification process, and here’s the scoop in a fun, light way.

Recently, Bluesky quietly started letting users apply for verification if their accounts are considered ‘notable’ and authentic. This is a big shift, and it allows users to fill out an online form to prove who they are. Organizations can also request to become Trusted Verifiers, helping to authenticate others.

Initially, a handful of organizations like The New York Times and Wired tested this new feature. Unlike Twitter/X, where verification became a symbol of status—or sometimes a status symbol—Bluesky aims to keep things a bit different. They’re not just handing out blue badges; they’re also allowing self-verification through domain-based usernames, like NPR’s @npr.org, which over 270,000 accounts now use.

The process for approval involves some basic requirements: accounts should be active, complete, secure, and linked to a real person, business, or organization. But what counts as ‘notable’ isn’t crystal clear. Bluesky looks at factors like professional recognition, media coverage, or presence on credible platforms, and they consider the overall context and public interest. Applicants are asked to provide links and evidence to justify their notability.

However, Bluesky has not promised how they’ll precisely vet these requests. They say they’ll only respond if an account gets approved, meaning someone will review to avoid overlooking celebrities or important figures. Interestingly, the ecosystem offers other verification options too, like Deer.Social, a forked version that lets users choose their own trusted verifiers without a central authority.

For some users, verification on Bluesky might evoke tensions similar to those on Twitter, where the badge often became a status symbol and sometimes a source of controversy. Bluesky’s approach seems to aim at a more democratic and context-aware verification system, possibly preserving the platform’s unique culture. It remains to be seen how effective and fair their vetting process will be, but it’s certainly an intriguing development in social media authenticity.