Bluesky struggles with verification amid surge in scammers

In recent weeks, Bluesky, a social media platform, has seen a significant influx of new users, leading to an increase in scammers and impersonators taking advantage of the platform's vulnerabilities. Unlike other social media networks that use standard verification systems, Bluesky has opted for a more decentralized approach where users can self-verify their accounts by incorporating custom domain names as their handles. This method creates challenges for users seeking verification, as the process is not straightforward and requires effort to establish their authenticity through their websites. As a result, many high-profile individuals and organizations are struggling to effectively verify their accounts, leaving them susceptible to impersonation. Some news outlets have adopted the custom domain approach, but not all their reporters receive the same level of verification, complicating matters further. In response to these challenges, certain proactive users have initiated unofficial verification efforts by confirming the identities of journalists and celebrities, despite the absence of a built-in verification indicator for verified accounts. Although Bluesky has acknowledged the issues arising from this system, they are focusing on enhancing their moderation team to combat impersonation and are exploring future methods for visual verification signals. However, the company remains hesitant to take on the role of an official verifier, preferring to empower organizations to handle verification on their own. This reluctance raises concerns as Bluesky seeks to establish itself in a competitive social media landscape while grappling with the fundamental issue of account authenticity.