Bluesky Rolls Out a 'Dislike' Button — But Not Everyone’s Cheering
The open-source social platform Bluesky, often dubbed the “open alternative” to X (formerly Twitter), is stepping into controversial territory. The company just revealed plans to introduce a new “dislike” feature, right after celebrating a major milestone: 40 million users worldwide. But here’s where things get interesting — and a little divisive.
According to Bluesky’s official announcement, the dislike option isn’t about spreading negativity or public shaming. Instead, it’s designed as a feedback signal to help fine-tune what shows up in your feed. Essentially, when you dislike something, the platform’s algorithm learns what you’d prefer to see less of — helping personalize your experience.
But that’s not all. Dislikes will also play a subtle role in how replies are ranked. Bluesky says the feature will help “lightly” demote low-quality or irrelevant comments, making discussions more meaningful and less cluttered.
However, there’s a twist that sets Bluesky’s approach apart: your dislikes will stay private. Unlike public reactions on other social platforms, your disapproval won’t be broadcast to the entire community. Instead, it will mostly affect your “social neighborhood” — the circle of users you regularly interact with, or who share similar interests. Bluesky is reportedly developing a system to map these micro-communities, so the content you engage with feels more personal and relevant.
“By prioritizing replies from people closer to your neighborhood, we can make conversations feel more relevant, familiar, and less prone to misunderstandings,” the company explained in its announcement.
At the moment, the dislike button isn’t widely available to all users, and Bluesky hasn’t confirmed when the feature will roll out globally.
A Risky Move? History Suggests Mixed Results
Many platforms have experimented with dislike buttons, often with controversial outcomes. Facebook, for example, tested a limited dislike feature back in 2018 that was only visible on public pages. While it aimed to cut down on spam and toxic comments, the company quietly dropped the feature after mixed feedback.
More recently, X (formerly Twitter) ran its own dislike experiment in June 2024, aiming to improve reply ranking. However, it quickly drew criticism from users worried it might become a tool for online harassment or coordinated bullying, much like “review bombing” seen on platforms such as Amazon or Google Reviews.
TikTok, on the other hand, found more success when it added a dislike button for comments in 2022, using it to help filter out spam and abusive behavior — a move that’s still active today. And of course, Reddit’s downvote system, a staple since its creation, remains a defining part of how its community self-regulates content.
Why Now?
Bluesky’s timing is strategic. The platform has been growing at a staggering rate, with its user base more than doubling over the past year. In fact, usage surged over 500% during the first ten months of 2024, largely fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with Elon Musk’s leadership of X.
As Bluesky gains traction, introducing new engagement tools like the dislike button could help refine its user experience — or spark heated debates about how much control algorithms should have over what we see online.
So, what do you think?
Should social platforms bring back the dislike button to improve content quality, or does it risk encouraging more negativity and division online? Share your thoughts — agree or disagree — in the comments below.
