Bluesky launches a privacy-focused ‘find friends’ feature without invite spam

Bluesky, the emerging social media platform challenging competitors like X and Threads, has announced the launch of a new feature aimed at helping users find friends while prioritizing privacy. The company revealed this development on Wednesday, emphasizing its commitment to user data protection. This innovative feature works by connecting users with friends from their phone's contact list, but only if both parties have opted in to participate. Bluesky noted that while importing contacts has been a common method for connecting users on social platforms, it has often been mishandled or exploited. The company highlighted concerns about the security of phone numbers, which have been subjected to breaches and misuse in the past. To address these issues, Bluesky has created a more secure system designed to protect user information. Unlike previous social apps that utilized contact matching as a means to generate leads—often leading to unwanted spam invites—Bluesky has opted for a more respectful approach. Rather than sending automated invitations, users will have the option to manually send invites to friends. Although this method ensures that each invitation is a personal choice, recipients will not have the option to opt out of receiving these invites. To access the Find Friends feature, users must first verify their phone number through a six-digit code sent via SMS before they can upload their contacts. This verification process aims to prevent misuse by individuals attempting to generate random numbers to gather information from Bluesky users. As the feature rolls out, early users should expect that contact matching may take a bit of time, with more friends appearing as additional users upload their contacts. Matches will only occur when both users have each other's numbers saved. For those who prefer privacy from acquaintances, opting out of the feature is a straightforward choice. Bluesky has assured users that any uploaded contact data is stored in a hashed form, which combines users' numbers with their contacts to enhance security. Furthermore, the encryption of this data is linked to a hardware key stored separately from Bluesky's database. Users also have the ability to remove their uploaded contacts if they choose to stop using the service. Prior to the feature's launch, Bluesky shared technical details with the security community for feedback, demonstrating transparency in their approach. Currently, the Find Friends feature is being rolled out to users in various countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., and the United States.