Bluesky Adds Algorithmic Opt-Out Feature to Limit Post Discovery

Bluesky has introduced a new algorithmic opt-out setting that allows users to prevent their public posts from appearing in the platform’s main Discover feed.

The update gives users more control over how widely their posts are distributed. Bluesky announced the feature as part of its latest platform changes, allowing people to share content with their existing followers without having it automatically surfaced to a broader audience.

The new option does not make posts private. Bluesky’s network remains public by default, and the company is still developing support for private data at the protocol level. Instead, the setting reduces the chance that public posts will be recommended to users outside an individual’s existing network.

Bluesky said the feature was created for users who want to share updates with their followers but do not necessarily want their posts to reach large audiences through algorithmic recommendations.

Users can turn off Discover feed distribution by changing a setting in the platform’s Privacy and Security settings. Bluesky says the change may take up to an hour to take full effect.

The preference is stored at the account level rather than only inside Bluesky’s own app. Because Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol, its settings can be made available to other applications that use the same underlying technology.

However, other AT Protocol-based apps will still decide whether they respect the preference. The feature provides a user-preference signal, but individual applications must decide how to implement it.

Bluesky’s latest change follows the company’s continued expansion of user controls and platform features as it develops a more open social networking model.

Bluesky’s announcement of the algorithmic opt-out feature explains the new control and its effects on content visibility across the platform.