Bluesky Default Moderation Settings: What Bluesky PBC Filters by Default

When you first join Bluesky, the platform applies a set of default moderation filters controlled by Bluesky PBC. These filters hide certain types of content from your feeds and notifications without you needing to change any settings. Many users are unaware that these defaults exist, which can lead to confusion when posts they expect to see do not appear. This article explains exactly what Bluesky filters by default in 2025, including the specific categories of content that are hidden or labeled, and how to adjust these settings to match your preferences.

How Bluesky Default Moderation Works

Bluesky uses a combination of automated systems and community reporting to enforce default moderation. The platform categorizes content into three levels: hidden, labeled, and visible. Hidden content is completely removed from your feeds and notifications. Labeled content appears with a warning that you must click to reveal. Visible content appears normally.

The default settings apply to all new accounts. If you created your account before Bluesky PBC updated these defaults, your existing settings remain unchanged. You can verify your current defaults by going to Settings > Moderation and reviewing each section.

Content Categories Filtered by Default

Bluesky PBC applies default filters to the following content categories:

• Hate speech — Posts that attack people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality. These are hidden from all feeds and notifications.
• Spam — Automated or repetitive posts, fake accounts, and malicious links. These are hidden from feeds and notifications.
• Sexually explicit media — Images and videos containing nudity or sexual activity. These are labeled with a warning and hidden from the Home feed unless you enable adult content in your settings.
• Graphic violence — Content depicting extreme injury, death, or gore. These are labeled with a warning and hidden from the Home feed.
• Harassment — Targeted attacks, threats, or bullying directed at specific individuals. These are hidden from notifications and may be removed from feeds after review.

How Bluesky Detects Filtered Content

Bluesky relies on three detection methods:

• Automated moderation — Machine learning models scan text and media for keywords, patterns, and image hashes known to contain prohibited content.
• User reports — Any user can report a post or account. Reports are reviewed by Bluesky PBC moderators or third-party moderation service providers.
• Muted words list — A default list of terms and phrases that trigger hiding of posts containing those words. The list is maintained by Bluesky PBC and updated periodically.

Steps to Review and Adjust Default Moderation Settings

You can see exactly what Bluesky filters by default and change any setting to better suit your needs. Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings
   Tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the Bluesky app or click your avatar in the top right of the web interface. Select Settings from the menu.
2. Go to Moderation
   In the Settings menu, select Moderation. This section contains all content filtering options.
3. Review Content Filters
   Tap Content Filters. You will see a list of toggles for each category: Hate Speech, Spam, Sexually Explicit Media, Graphic Violence, and Harassment. Each toggle shows whether the category is hidden, labeled, or visible. By default, all categories are set to Hide or Label.
4. Adjust Adult Content Settings
   Go back to the Moderation screen and select Adult Content. By default, this is set to Hide. To see adult media without warning labels, change it to Show. Note that you must be at least 18 years old to enable this option.
5. Manage Muted Words
   Select Muted Words. You will see the default list of muted words and phrases. You can add your own words by tapping Add Word and typing the term. To remove a default word, tap the three dots next to it and select Remove.
6. Check Notification Filters
   Go back to the main Settings screen and select Notifications. Under Content Filters, you can choose to hide notifications that contain muted words or filtered categories. By default, filtered content does not trigger notifications.

What Happens When Default Filters Are Too Strict or Too Lax

You Miss Posts You Want to See

If you suspect that Bluesky is hiding content you want to see, check the Content Filters section. For example, if you follow an artist who posts mature art, the default adult content filter may hide their posts. Change the adult content setting to Label or Show to make those posts visible.

You See Content You Want to Hide

If offensive or spammy content appears in your feeds despite the default filters, you can add specific words to your Muted Words list. You can also mute individual accounts by tapping the three dots on any post and selecting Mute Account. For persistent issues, report the account to Bluesky PBC.

Default Filters Do Not Apply to Custom Feeds

Bluesky default moderation settings apply to the Home feed and notifications. Custom feeds created by third-party developers may use their own moderation rules. If a custom feed shows content you do not want to see, you can mute the feed or remove it from your pinned feeds list.

Moderation Settings Are Per-Account

Each Bluesky account has its own moderation settings. If you manage multiple accounts, you must adjust the settings for each account individually. There is no way to apply one set of moderation rules to all your accounts.

Setting	Default Behavior	User Can Change
Hate Speech	Hidden from feeds and notifications	Yes — change to Label or Visible
Spam	Hidden from feeds and notifications	Yes — change to Label or Visible
Sexually Explicit Media	Labeled with warning; hidden from Home feed	Yes — enable Adult Content to Show
Graphic Violence	Labeled with warning; hidden from Home feed	Yes — change to Visible
Harassment	Hidden from notifications; may be hidden from feeds after review	Yes — change to Label or Visible
Muted Words	Default list of slurs and harassment terms	Yes — add or remove words

Understanding Bluesky default moderation settings helps you control your experience on the platform. You can now review each filter category in Settings > Moderation and adjust them to match your comfort level. For a more tailored experience, add industry-specific terms to your Muted Words list to reduce noise from irrelevant posts. If you frequently encounter unwanted content, consider enabling the Strict Moderation option in the Content Filters section, which applies additional automated checks to all posts before they reach your feed.