X rival Bluesky to get dislike button soon: Here’s everything we know

Bluesky

Bluesky, the social media platform founded by former Twitter (now X) CEO Jack Dorsey, is getting ready to test a “dislike” button — a feature many users have been asking for but with a very different purpose than you might expect.

In a new blog post, Bluesky said the dislike button won’t be about public shaming or boosting arguments online. Instead, it will be a private feedback tool designed to make your feed more personal and relevant. When you hit “dislike,” the app will quietly learn what kinds of posts you want to see less of. The feedback won’t be visible to others and won’t work like Reddit’s downvotes or YouTube’s dislikes.

The company explained that this new feature will mainly help improve the “Discover” section and reply rankings. Posts or replies marked as low-quality or irrelevant will automatically appear less often, not just for one person but also within that person’s “social neighborhood” — the group of users they usually interact with.

This is part of a larger effort by Bluesky to create a healthier online space focused on quality conversations instead of viral outrage. The company said it’s not chasing engagement numbers or ad revenue, which allows it to experiment freely with tools that prioritize user well-being over clicks.

Bluesky has already rolled out several thoughtful moderation features in recent months, including followers-only replies, shared moderation lists, and an option to detach quote posts to reduce unwanted attention. The next round of updates will focus on improving how replies are ranked, detecting toxic or spammy behavior more accurately, and making reply settings easier to find.

The platform is also testing a small design tweak — when users tap the “Reply” button, they’ll now see the full conversation first instead of jumping straight to the comment box. This, Bluesky believes, will encourage people to read before responding and prevent repetitive or out-of-context replies.

The company says these experiments are part of a long-term mission to make social media calmer and more human. “We won’t get everything right on the first try,” the blog said, “but we’re learning what truly helps people have better conversations.”

With the dislike button and other experiments rolling out soon, Bluesky seems determined to stand apart from X and other platforms that often reward outrage over authenticity — and perhaps, in the process, redefine what social media conversations can feel like.