# Is Bluesky Safe? Privacy, Moderation, Scams and Kids, Explained

> Is Bluesky safe? What's public, how moderation and blocking work, whether DMs are private, account security, scams to watch for, and whether Bluesky is safe for teens.

Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/is-bluesky-safe
Last updated: 2026-10-28

Category: Bluesky. 

Bluesky is safe to use in the way most mainstream social networks are: it has a moderation team, content labels, strong blocking and muting tools, and adult content is hidden unless an adult turns it on. The two things to understand before you join are that **almost everything on Bluesky is public**, including your posts, likes, follows and blocks, and that **Bluesky's built-in DMs are not end-to-end encrypted** at the time of writing. If you treat it like a public stage rather than a private group chat, it's a comfortable place to be.

Here's what to know, area by area.

## What's public on Bluesky

Bluesky runs on the AT Protocol, an open network where account data is published so other apps can read it. That's what makes custom feeds and third-party apps possible, and it's also why there are no private accounts.

| What | Public? |
| --- | --- |
| Posts and replies | Yes, to anyone, including people without an account (unless you limit logged-out viewing) |
| Likes | Yes, others can see who liked a post |
| Follows and followers | Yes |
| Blocks | Yes, block records are public data |
| Lists you create | Yes |
| DMs | No, but stored by Bluesky without end-to-end encryption |
| Email address, password, muted accounts | No |

Deleting a post removes it from Bluesky, but copies may already exist in other apps or archives that read the network. Post as if anything public could be kept. Our guides on [making a Bluesky account private](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-make-bluesky-account-private) and [whether likes are public](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/are-likes-public-on-bluesky) cover the settings that help.

## Moderation and blocking

Bluesky has its own moderation team and community guidelines, and adds a layer most networks don't: **stackable moderation**. You can subscribe to extra labeling services run by other groups and to shared block or mute lists.

The tools you'll use most:

- **Block.** The person can't see your posts while logged in, reply to you or mention you. Blocks are strong on Bluesky: a block also hides the thread between you and stops quote posts.
- **Mute.** Hides someone from your feeds without them knowing. Mutes are private.
- **Mute words and tags.** Hide posts containing specific words or hashtags.
- **Reply controls.** Choose who can reply to each post, and hide replies on your threads.
- **Detach quote posts.** Remove your post from someone else's quote post.
- **Report.** Every post, account and list has a report option.

See [who blocked you on Bluesky](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/who-blocked-me-on-bluesky) for how blocks show up.

## Are Bluesky DMs private?

Only you and the other person can read a DM in the app, but Bluesky's standard DMs aren't end-to-end encrypted, so they're stored on Bluesky's servers in a form the company could access, for example during a moderation review. Don't send passwords, ID documents or anything you'd regret leaking. Bluesky has said it plans to support encrypted messaging, and a third-party app called Germ offers end-to-end encrypted chat linked to Bluesky profiles. You also choose who can message you; see [how to DM on Bluesky](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-dm-on-bluesky).

## Account security

- **Use a strong, unique password** and turn on **two-factor authentication** in Settings, Account (Bluesky sends a sign-in code to your email).
- **Use app passwords for third-party apps.** Never give an app your main password. App passwords are created in Settings, Privacy and security, App passwords, and can be revoked one by one. Schedule For You connects Bluesky this way; you enter your handle and an app password, and you can cut access at any time. The [Bluesky scheduler page](https://scheduleforyou.com/bluesky) explains the setup.
- **Verify with a domain.** Setting your handle to your own website's domain proves you are who you say you are. Bluesky also gives a blue check to some notable accounts and trusted verifiers.

## Scams and impersonation

Bluesky has the usual social media scams: fake giveaways, crypto "investment" pitches, romance scams in DMs, and impersonation accounts copying a well-known name and avatar. Signs to watch:

- A handle that's slightly off, or a default `.bsky.social` handle for an organization that should have its own domain.
- A brand-new account with few posts asking you to move to WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Links asking you to "log in to Bluesky" on a site that isn't bsky.app.

Bluesky never asks for your password by DM.

## Is Bluesky safe for kids and teens?

Bluesky's terms set a minimum age (13 in most places at the time of writing). Adult content is off by default and can only be turned on by accounts that say they're 18 or older. In some places, including the UK, Bluesky requires age verification before an account can see adult content or use some features such as DMs, and it blocked access in Mississippi rather than comply with that state's age law. Parents should know that Bluesky has no parental control dashboard, and posts are public, so a teen account is visible to everyone. See [how adult content settings work on Bluesky](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-see-adult-content-on-bluesky).

## Frequently asked questions

### Can people see what I like on Bluesky?
Yes. Likes are public records. Anyone can open a post's likes and see who liked it, and third-party tools can list an account's likes.

### Does Bluesky sell my data?
Bluesky says it doesn't sell user data, and it has no ad business at the time of writing. Public posts can still be read by anyone on the open network, including apps and researchers.

### Is Bluesky safer than X?
It depends on what you mean. Bluesky has stronger blocking and more moderation choices, and no ads tracking you. Like X, it's public by default, and its DMs aren't end-to-end encrypted.

### Can Bluesky see my DMs?
Bluesky's built-in DMs aren't end-to-end encrypted, so the company could access them, for example to investigate a report. Use an encrypted app for anything sensitive.

## Related

- [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog)
- [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)