# Bluesky's Debut Transparency Report Flags User Report Surge, Legal Requests
Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, has released its first comprehensive transparency report for 2025, highlighting a massive surge in user reports amid explosive growth to 41 million users, alongside rising legal requests from governments.[2][3] The report underscores the company's efforts to scale trust and safety operations while tackling moderation challenges, even as some metrics reveal ongoing struggles with engagement and content violations.[1][2]
Bluesky's Rapid Growth and Moderation Scaling in 2025
Bluesky experienced unprecedented expansion in 2025, growing from 25 million to 41 million users and seeing 1.41 billion posts created—representing 61% of all posts ever made on the platform.[1][2] To match this growth, the company scaled its moderation infrastructure, maintaining 24/7 coverage and reviewing nearly 10 million user reports (9.97 million), applying 16.49 million labels, and removing 2.45 million violating content pieces.[2] This human-centered approach combines automated detection for spam, bots, child exploitation, and coordinated attacks with trained human moderators handling nuanced issues like harassment and hate speech.[2]
Despite the surge in reports, Bluesky notes improvements, such as a month-over-month drop in misleading content reports and a 79% decline in reports for antisocial behavior, attributed to better spam detection and downranking toxic posts.[2][6] The platform also introduced a strike system for transparency on violations and a human-reviewed appeals process.[2]
Surge in User Reports and Government Legal Demands
The debut transparency report flags a significant rise in user reports, reflecting the challenges of moderating a fast-growing network.[3] Bluesky processed millions of reports while balancing speed, accuracy, and free expression, acknowledging hard trade-offs in the process.[2] Government legal requests are also on the rise, with the report detailing regulatory compliance, account takedowns, and demands that test the platform's decentralized AT Protocol foundations.[3]
These developments come as Bluesky invests heavily in verification, including centralized checks and partnerships with news organizations, universities, and cities as Trusted Verifiers.[2] However, the report admits imperfections, emphasizing ongoing evolution to build scalable trust and safety systems.[2]
Challenges Amid Declining Engagement Trends
While user numbers climbed, some data points to engagement hurdles, with reports of declining daily active users and posts in recent months.[4][5] Third-party stats show active users down 6.3% over 12 weeks, daily posters down 5.6%, and overall posts dropping 4.3%, even as likes saw slight upticks.[5] Bluesky's 2026 roadmap addresses these by promising upgrades like a Discover feed, better recommendations, real-time features, and a Live Event Feed for live discussions.[4][6]
The company predicts 2026 trends like more thoughtful posting and real-time engagement to counter toxic internet norms, while tools encourage users to pause before posting.[6]
Looking Ahead: Bluesky's 2026 Roadmap and Transparency Push
Bluesky's transparency efforts signal a commitment to openness, with the report serving as a benchmark for future accountability on moderation and legal compliance.[2][3] Amid competition from Threads and X, the platform is prioritizing foundational fixes like video limits, photo uploads, and eventual private accounts.[4] These steps aim to reverse engagement dips and foster healthier discourse on a decentralized network.[2][6]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bluesky's 2025 transparency report about?[2]
The report details Bluesky's moderation stats, including 9.97 million user reports reviewed, 2.45 million content removals, and growth to 41 million users, while highlighting improvements in spam detection and legal request handling.[2]
How did Bluesky handle the surge in user reports?[2][3]
Bluesky scaled 24/7 human moderation, automated high-volume issues like spam, and applied labels or removals based on Community Guidelines, processing nearly 10 million reports amid 1.41 billion posts.[2]
What do the numbers say about Bluesky's user growth and engagement?[1][4][5]
Users grew 60-64% to 41 million, but recent data shows declining daily active users (down 6.3%), posts (down 4.3%), and engagement in some metrics.[1][4][5]
Are government legal requests increasing on Bluesky?[3]
Yes, the first transparency report notes a rise in government legal demands, covering regulatory compliance and account takedowns.[3]
What improvements did Bluesky make to trust and safety?[2]
Enhancements include a strike system, human appeals, Trusted Verifiers, and downranking toxic content, leading to a 79% drop in antisocial behavior reports.[2][6]
What's next for Bluesky in 2026?[4][6]
The roadmap features a Live Event Feed, better Discover tools, real-time posting, and features to encourage thoughtful discourse amid engagement recovery efforts.[4][6]
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 5:40:52 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Bluesky Transparency Report Sparks Mixed User Reactions**
Bluesky's first 2025 transparency report, revealing a **54% surge in user reports** to 9.97 million amid 57% user growth to 41.2 million, has drawn praise from users for its granular 39-category reporting system that "helps our moderation systems act faster and with greater precision."[1][2][3] However, some online skeptics on forums like Hacker News question the platform's viability, citing a reported **40% drop in daily active users** year-over-year and fretting, "I don't understand how Bluesky is going to continue to exist past 2026."[6][7] No widespread publi
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 5:50:49 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Bluesky Transparency Report Sparks No Immediate Government Response**
Bluesky's inaugural 2025 transparency report, released January 29, 2026, disclosed receiving **1,470 legal requests** from governments worldwide and complying with **1,334 valid ones** at a **90.7% rate**, amid a **54% surge** in user reports to **9.97 million**—yet no regulatory bodies have publicly commented or launched probes as of this update[1][2]. The report highlighted removals of **3,619 accounts** tied to suspected foreign influence operations, mostly Russia-linked, with ongoing collaborations noted alongside public-sector partners, but officials remain silent on potential escalations[1][2]. Transparenc
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 6:00:49 PM
**BREAKING: Mixed Consumer Reactions to Bluesky's First Transparency Report**
Bluesky users have largely praised the platform's debut 2025 transparency report for its detailed breakdown of a **54% surge in moderation reports**—from 6.48 million in 2024 to **9.97 million**—which "closely tracked" the network's 57% user growth to 41.2 million, alongside a **90.7% compliance rate** on 1,470 legal requests.[1][2] However, public skepticism is mounting on forums like Hacker News, where commenters question Bluesky's longevity amid reports of a **40% year-over-year drop in daily active users** through October 202
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 6:10:55 PM
**Bluesky released its first comprehensive transparency report, revealing a 54% surge in user-submitted moderation reports that grew from 6.48 million in 2024 to 9.97 million in 2025, though the platform noted this increase "closely tracked" its 57% user growth over the same period.[2]** The report also disclosed that Bluesky complied with 1,334 out of 1,470 legal requests for user data, achieving a 90.7% compliance rate, while simultaneously removing 3,619 accounts suspected of involvement in influence operations, most linked to Russian state-aligned actors.[1] As part of its moderation overha
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 6:20:54 PM
**BREAKING: Expert Analysis on Bluesky's First Transparency Report Highlights Moderation Scaling Challenges Amid User Growth**
TechCrunch reports a **54% surge in user moderation reports** to 9.97 million in 2025 from 6.48 million in 2024, closely tracking the platform's 57% user expansion to 41.2 million, though per-user reports dropped 50.9% month-over-month by December[2]. Industry observers praise Bluesky's granular 39-category reporting system for enabling "faster and greater precision" in enforcement, as noted by the company, which removed **3,619 accounts**—mostly Russia-linked—for influence operations and complied with **90.7% of 1
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 6:30:55 PM
**Bluesky Transparency Report Sparks Market Skepticism Amid Usage Woes**
Bluesky's debut transparency report, revealing a **54% surge in user moderation reports** to 9.97 million in 2025 alongside rising legal demands, has fueled investor doubts as the platform grapples with a reported **40% year-over-year drop in daily active users** through October 2025 per Similarweb data.[1][4][8] Market chatter on Hacker News questions Bluesky's survival past 2026, citing shrinking active users—down **6.3%** in posting/liking/following over 12 weeks and only **5.6 million MAUs** recently—amid high headcount costs estimated a
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 6:40:55 PM
**Government legal demands on Bluesky surged fivefold to 1,470 in 2025**, up from 238 the previous year, according to the platform's inaugural transparency report released this week.[1][2] Bluesky complied with 1,334 of these valid requests, representing a **90.7% compliance rate**, though the company noted that 130 requests were invalid due to insufficient information or legal deficiencies.[2] The spike in regulatory scrutiny reflects pressure from authorities worldwide as Bluesky's user base nearly doubled to 41.2 million, with the company now facing heightened expectations for compliance documentation aligned with frameworks like the European Union's Digital
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 6:50:53 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Regulatory Response to Bluesky's Transparency Report**
Bluesky's debut 2025 transparency report reveals a **fivefold surge in government legal requests** to 1,470 from 238 in 2024, with the platform complying at a **90.7% rate** (1,334 of 1,470 valid requests), amid 60% user growth to 41.2 million.[1][2] No direct regulatory responses have emerged yet, but the escalation aligns with **EU Digital Services Act mandates** for detailed disclosures on denials, appeals, and jurisdictions, as civil groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation intensify pressure for granular accounting.[3] Bluesky also removed **3,61
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 7:00:54 PM
**Bluesky's first transparency report highlights its explosive 60% user growth to 41.2 million in 2025—from 25.9 million—positioning it as a stronger rival to X and Threads amid rising moderation demands.**[1][2][3] User reports surged 54% to 9.97 million, "closely tracked" with the 57% user expansion, while legal requests jumped fivefold to 1,470—complying with 90.7%—signaling intensified global scrutiny as the decentralized AT Protocol network scales.[1][2][3] This efficiency, with reports per 1,000 active users dropping 50.9% month-over-month, bolsters Blue
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 7:10:58 PM
**Bluesky's first transparency report highlights its explosive 60% user growth to 41.2 million in 2025, intensifying competition with X and Threads in the decentralized social space.[1][3][4]** This surge drove a 54% rise in user reports to 9.97 million—closely tracking the 57% user expansion—while legal requests jumped 5x to 1,470, signaling Bluesky's rising profile amid rivals' moderation struggles.[1][4] The platform removed 2.45 million violating items, bolstering its edge as a lean alternative with just 20 full-time staff handling 1.41 billion posts.[3][5][6]
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 7:21:00 PM
**Bluesky Transparency Report Sparks Minimal Market Stir Amid Private Status**
Bluesky's debut 2025 transparency report, highlighting a **54% surge in user reports** to 9.97 million and a **fivefold jump in legal requests** to 1,470, elicited no immediate stock price movements as the decentralized social network remains privately held with no public trading.[2][3] Investors showed muted reactions in secondary markets, with unofficial share valuations holding steady around prior levels despite the report's disclosure of 3,619 influence operation account removals, mostly Russia-linked.[1][2] Analysts note the 57-60% user growth to 41 million tracked the report spikes closely, tempering concerns over scalability.
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 7:30:59 PM
**Bluesky's government legal requests surged fivefold in 2025**, jumping to 1,470 demands from law enforcement and regulators compared to 238 the previous year, according to the platform's first comprehensive transparency report released this week[1]. The spike reflects mounting regulatory pressure as Bluesky scaled to 41.2 million users, with observers noting that compliance obligations will intensify as the European Union's Digital Services Act and civil-society groups continue pressing platforms for detailed disclosures on how they handle government requests and appeals[2]. The report underscores the broader challenge facing decentralized networks: enforcing consistent moderation and responding to legal demands across multiple independent servers operating under
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 7:40:57 PM
**Bluesky's first transparency report underscores intensifying competition in the social media landscape, revealing a **60% user growth surge** from 25.9 million in 2024 to **41.2 million in 2025**, positioning it as a stronger rival to X and Threads amid decentralized AT Protocol expansion.[1][2][3]** This scale-up tracked a **54% jump in user reports** to **9.97 million**, predominantly for misleading content (**43.73%**) and harassment (**19.93%**), while legal requests skyrocketed **5x** to **1,470**—with **90.7% compliance**—signaling heightened regulatory scrutiny as Bluesky vies for market share.[1]
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 7:50:59 PM
**Bluesky Transparency Report Sparks Regulatory Scrutiny Concerns**
No direct regulatory or government responses have emerged to Bluesky's first transparency report, which disclosed a fivefold surge in legal requests to **1,470** in 2025 from **238** in 2024, with a **90.7% compliance rate** on **1,334 valid requests**[1][2]. Sources note this escalation aligns with pressures from the **European Union’s Digital Services Act**, which mandates transparency reporting, as civil-society groups like the **Electronic Frontier Foundation** push for detailed breakdowns on denials and jurisdictional compliance amid Bluesky's growth to **41.2 million users**[3]. The report highlights **3
🔄 Updated: 1/30/2026, 8:01:04 PM
**Bluesky's debut transparency report reveals a fivefold surge in legal demands and expanded moderation capabilities as the platform scales globally.**[3] The decentralized social network received 1,470 legal requests from law enforcement and regulators in 2025—up from 238 previously—while user moderation reports climbed 54% to 9.97 million, closely tracking its 57% user growth.[2][3] The report underscores mounting regulatory pressure aligned with the European Union's Digital Services Act, with independent researchers and civil-society groups now scrutinizing how Bluesky handles cross-network influence operations, particularly those linked to Russia-aligned actors, across its AT