How to Protect Your Privacy on Bluesky

Bluesky has rapidly grown into one of the most popular social networks, attracting millions of users seeking an alternative to X (formerly Twitter). But like any social platform, Bluesky comes with privacy trade-offs you need to understand. Here's how to lock down your account and protect your personal information.

Understanding Bluesky's Privacy Model

Unlike Instagram or X, Bluesky does not offer a private account option. The platform is built on the AT Protocol, a decentralized framework that makes most content public by design. Your posts, reposts, likes, photos, blocks, followers, and profile information are all visible to other users — and potentially to search engines.

This openness is intentional, but it means you need to be especially deliberate about what you share and how you configure your settings.

Essential Privacy Settings to Change

1. Disable Logged-Out Visibility

By default, your Bluesky profile may be visible to anyone on the web, even without an account. To limit this exposure:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy
2. Toggle off "Logged-out visibility"

This prevents non-logged-in users and search engine crawlers from viewing your profile, significantly reducing your digital footprint.

2. Turn Off Email and Phone Discoverability

Bluesky allows other users to find your account using your email address or phone number. If you value anonymity:

1. Navigate to Settings > Privacy
2. Disable "Allow others to find me by email/phone"

3. Control Who Can Reply to Your Posts

You can limit who responds to your posts to reduce unwanted interactions:

• When composing a post, tap the audience selector (globe icon) and choose "Only people you follow"
• For a permanent default, go to Settings > Moderation > Interaction Settings and set "Who can reply" to "Your followers"

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Protect your account from unauthorized access by enabling 2FA:

1. Go to Settings > Security
2. Enable two-factor authentication
3. Save your backup codes in a secure location

5. Revoke Unauthorized App Access

Third-party apps connected to your Bluesky account can access your data. Periodically review and revoke access to apps you no longer use:

1. Visit Settings > Security
2. Review all connected applications
3. Remove any you don't recognize or no longer need

Use app-specific passwords when connecting third-party tools so you never expose your main password.

Profile and Posting Best Practices

Minimize Personal Information in Your Profile

Since Bluesky profiles are public, treat your bio as a billboard that anyone can see:

• Avoid sharing your full name, location, employer, or school
• Use a generic or abstract profile picture rather than a personal photo
• Consider using a pseudonym if your goal is anonymity

Think Before You Post

Every post on Bluesky is public and can be indexed, screenshotted, or scraped. Before posting, ask yourself:

• Does this reveal my location, daily routine, or travel plans?
• Could this information be used to identify me or my family members?
• Would I be comfortable if this appeared in a Google search result?

Use Mutes and Blocks Strategically

Bluesky offers both muting and blocking, with an important privacy distinction:

• Blocks are public — the blocked user and potentially others can see that you've blocked them
• Mutes are private — the muted user has no way of knowing they've been muted

If you're trying to distance yourself from someone without alerting them, muting is the more discreet option.

Managing Your Data on the AT Protocol

Bluesky's decentralized architecture means your data may be stored across multiple servers (called Personal Data Servers or PDS). While this offers some benefits — like the ability to migrate your account — it also means your data could persist in unexpected places.

• Regularly delete old posts that contain personal information
• Be aware that deleted content may still exist on federated servers or in third-party archives
• Review your data export periodically to understand what Bluesky stores about you

Protect Yourself Beyond Bluesky

Your Bluesky privacy settings are just one piece of the puzzle. Data brokers and people-search sites can connect your social media profiles to your real identity, home address, phone number, and more.

A comprehensive privacy strategy should include:

• Removing your information from data broker sites — services like PrivacyOn monitor and remove your personal data from 100+ data broker sites automatically
• Using a unique email address for your Bluesky account that isn't linked to your real name
• Using a VPN to mask your IP address when accessing Bluesky
• Regularly searching for yourself online to see what information is publicly available

Bluesky Privacy Checklist

Use this quick checklist to lock down your Bluesky account:

1. Disable logged-out visibility
2. Turn off email/phone discoverability
3. Set default reply permissions to followers only
4. Enable two-factor authentication
5. Revoke unnecessary app access
6. Remove personal details from your bio
7. Use a pseudonym and non-personal profile photo
8. Regularly delete old posts with personal information
9. Use a separate email address for your account
10. Remove your data from data broker sites with PrivacyOn

Stay Protected

Bluesky's open, decentralized design offers many benefits, but it puts extra responsibility on you to protect your privacy. By adjusting your settings, being mindful of what you share, and using tools like PrivacyOn to manage your broader digital footprint, you can enjoy the platform while keeping your personal information secure.