Bluesky, the decentralized social network, is introducing a new in-app video and music player for links, along with a novel “hide post” feature, bringing its user experience closer to that of X (Twitter).
The recently added video and music player is compatible with YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Twitch embeds. Unlike X, where video autoplay is the default, Bluesky’s in-app player requires users to initiate playback with a tap, offering a more user-controlled experience.
The “hide post” feature allows users to click on it if there’s content they prefer not to see again. The post will be removed from their feeds and discreetly “masked” if visited directly.
In addition to these enhancements, Bluesky has addressed a bug that caused muted and blocked account listings to appear empty. The social network also fixed an issue leading to an empty home screen and resolved a crash bug occurring during thread interactions.
This announcement follows Bluesky’s recent decision to allow users to view posts on its platform without the need to log in. While an invitation is still required to create an account and post content, users can now read posts through a link. This update enables publishers to link to or embed Bluesky posts in blogs, and users can share Bluesky posts in individual or group chats.
Bluesky, which launched its iOS and Android apps in February, reached 2 million users last month. Although currently the sole instance on the AT Protocol, Bluesky aims for federation “early next year,” aspiring to function as a more open social network akin to Mastodon. This approach will empower users to select servers, offering greater flexibility in managing their accounts.
