Bluesky, the social media platform capturing attention with its novel features, recently launched its 'Trending' topics function, adding to its growing array of offerings aimed at enhancing user experience. Announced on December 25, 2023, this feature marks Bluesky's efforts to stay competitive and relevant within the crowded social media space, particularly against established platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Threads.
The 'Trending' topics feature is currently being rolled out as part of beta testing, signaling Bluesky's focus on iterative improvements rather than rushing complete functionalities. Users can access this new capability by tapping the search button on the Bluesky app or website. If enabled for your account, trending topics will appear below the text box. These trending posts are not organized by priority; instead, they showcase a collection of popular keywords representing the current social media buzz.
Many users have expressed mixed feelings about trending topics. On one hand, they provide a glimpse of what is currently being discussed. On the other, some find them intrusive, as they can lead to conversations they may not wish to engage with or amplify content they feel is unnecessary. Fortunately, Bluesky offers users the option to entirely disable this feature, providing control over their social media experience. Users can easily disable trending topics by clicking the 'X' next to the list or by accessing settings through 'Settings > Content and Media', where they can toggle the trending topics option off.
One particularly appealing aspect of Bluesky's trending topics is the inclusion of user preferences, particularly with muted keywords. Those who opt to mute specific subjects will not see related trends, allowing them to sidestep unwanted discussions about politics, celebrity gossip, or other topics they prefer to avoid. This approach lends user control to what could be seen as unwelcome information on their social media feeds.
While the trending topics feature is currently operational only for English-speaking users, Bluesky hints at future enhancements as it gathers feedback during this beta testing phase. The platform is still short of fully rivaling the substantial user bases of giants like Threads and X, but it's clear Bluesky is gaining traction. Just recently, following the political events leading up to the 2024 U.S. national elections, Bluesky has seen unprecedented growth, reporting sign-ups nearing 1 million per day.
According to reports, Bluesky recently achieved 24 million users, marking significant growth since it opened public access earlier this year. This rapid expansion positions Bluesky not just as another alternative to X, but as a serious contender as user dissatisfaction with existing platforms proliferates. Bluesky is also poised to introduce its subscription service, Bluesky+, which promises additional premium features for subscribers.
The 'Trending' topics feature invites users to experience social media engagement differently, allowing them to follow discussions without following the traditional clutter of unwanted content. The idea resonates with users who prefer curated social interactions or seek to discover what's buzzing without feeling algorithmically pushed toward uninviting discussions.
It's important to note, this new feature isn’t the only way users can engage with trending content on Bluesky. Users have the option to explore other trending feeds by searching “trending” from the Feeds page, where specialized feeds like Trending News and Trending Links await. These added pathways provide avenues for users to discover what’s hot on the platform, empowering them to tailor their experience even more finely.
Bluesky's introduction of trending topics serves as more than just another bullet point on their feature list. It's part of their broader strategy of responding to user desires for personalization, control, and easy access to conversations shaping online discourse. By wrapping this launch as a holiday gift to the community, Bluesky not only aligns with the festive spirit but also signals its commitment to enhancing the user experience through thoughtful innovations.
Moving forward, the platform is actively listening to user feedback as it tests this trending feature, promising enhancements and expansions based on user interaction solidly rooted within the community's needs. With Bluesky paving its path amid the ever-competitive social media sphere, users eagerly anticipate what additional features and improvements may arrive on the horizon, making the platform one to watch.