Bluesky is adding support for emoji reactions in its direct messages. The decentralized platform is rolling out a new version 1.100 software. 

Just like on X, users can now click on an emoji button next to any message to react with a preset emoji. There’s also a three-dot menu that opens up access to the full emoji keyboard options. 

This is Bluesky's continuous move into improving its chat experience. The app has seen recent growth, and it’s making tweaks to ensure those users stick around. In March, it launched a “Chat Requests” feature, letting users filter incoming messages from people they don’t follow. This is also similar to how X handles unsolicited DMs. It also increased video upload limits from a minute to three minutes long. 

Explore becomes more personalized with Starter Packs and curated feeds

Bluesky is also upgrading its Explore tab. Users can now input their own interests like sports, music, science, politics, books, and video games, and get tailored content based on that. This feature would enable them to shape what content they see. 

The platform is making its “Explore” tab more than a search bar. Previously, it added custom video feeds to the page. So, the Explore tab now works like a discovery tool similar to TikTok's For You feed or X’s algorithmic timelines. 

Bluesky also surfaces Starter Packs, which are curated lists of users grouped by topic. There are also custom feeds that pull content from users talking about specific themes or communities.

‍

‍

‍