Bluesky, a social network that has surpassed 25 million users, has rolled out a significant update to its app, introducing a range of new features designed to enhance user experience and protect users from impersonation. The v1.96 update, announced by the company, includes a separate mentions tab in notifications, protections against username squatting, and new controls for replies sorting.

One of the key features of the update is the addition of a new mentions tab, which allows users to see posts separately from other notifications. This change is expected to improve the overall user experience, making it easier for users to engage with content that mentions them.

In a bid to tackle the issue of username squatting, Bluesky has introduced a new protection mechanism. When a user changes their username to a custom domain, the platform reserves their original Bluesky username with a (.bsky.social suffix). This move is aimed at preventing impersonation, a problem that has plagued the platform in the past. In one notable incident, users were able to buy up domain names and reserve usernames with the names of known individuals who were not yet on the platform.

To further enhance user experience, Bluesky has also introduced new controls for replies sorting. Users can now choose between linear and threaded views, and sort replies using different filters such as hot, oldest, newest, most-liked, and random. This feature is expected to make it easier for users to engage with conversations and find relevant content.

In addition to these features, the update also includes new translation language support for Nepali, Khmer, and Romanian. This move is part of Bluesky's efforts to expand its global reach and make its platform more accessible to users from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

The v1.96 update is a significant milestone for Bluesky, which has been working to improve its platform and address user concerns. With these new features, the social network is poised to provide a more seamless and engaging experience for its users, while also protecting them from impersonation and other forms of abuse.

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, Bluesky's update is a timely reminder of the importance of innovation and user-centric design. With its focus on enhancing user experience and protecting users, Bluesky is well-positioned to remain a major player in the social media space.