Bluesky Opt-Out: Stop Going Viral

Bluesky Introduces Algorithmic Opt-Out for the Discover Feed

Bluesky is rolling out a new opt-out setting that lets users keep their posts public while preventing them from appearing in the app’s main Discover feed. The change is designed for people who want visibility on Bluesky without the extra amplification that can make a post go viral.

What the new setting does

The feature allows users to ask Bluesky’s apps to hide their posts from algorithmic recommendations, including the Discover feed. Importantly, it does not make an account private, and posts remain public and visible to followers and other users who find them directly.

• Posts stay public
• The Discover feed stops recommending them
• The setting is found in Privacy and Security
• Bluesky says the change can take up to one hour to fully apply

Why Bluesky is adding it

The update gives users more control over how widely their content is distributed. For people who want to use Bluesky as a public social network without attracting broad algorithmic exposure, the opt-out creates a middle ground between full public posting and private account behavior.

How it affects discoverability

Bluesky’s Discover feed is built to surface public posts across the network, which means a post can reach far beyond a user’s followers. With the new opt-out enabled, the account’s posts are much less likely to appear there, reducing the chance of unexpected virality while keeping the account public.

Where to find the option

Users can enable the setting in the app’s Privacy and Security menu. The toggle is labeled to indicate that apps should hide the user’s posts from algorithmic recommendations.

• Open Bluesky settings
• Go to Privacy and Security
• Turn on the algorithmic opt-out option
• Wait for the setting to propagate fully

What it means for the AT Protocol

The preference is stored at the account level, which means it can carry across other apps built on the same AT Protocol if those apps choose to honor it. That makes the feature more than a single-app tweak, since it aligns with Bluesky’s broader decentralized ecosystem.

Conclusion

Bluesky’s algorithmic opt-out gives users a practical way to stay public without being pushed into the Discover feed. For anyone who wants more control over reach, visibility, and the possibility of going viral, the new setting is a meaningful privacy and distribution option.