Social networking startup Bluesky is making progress on its plans to develop a subscription-based revenue stream, as revealed by a recent user interface mockup published on the company's GitHub page. The mockup, which includes a list of possible features, provides a glimpse into what Bluesky's premium subscription, dubbed Bluesky+, might offer.

While the company has warned that the list is not final and the features are subject to change, the mockup suggests that Bluesky is considering a range of premium features, including higher quality video uploads, custom app icons, inline post translations, post analytics, and bookmark folders. These features could potentially rival those offered by X, a competitor in the social media space.

One of the most interesting aspects of the mockup is the potential inclusion of verification badges as part of the subscription. This feature would allow users to showcase their verified status on their profiles, similar to X and Meta's platforms. However, it remains to be seen whether Bluesky will ultimately decide to offer verification tools behind a paywall.

The mockup also indicates that Bluesky+ could be priced at $8 per month or $72 per year, although this is not final. The discovery of the mockup has generated significant interest among Bluesky users, with hundreds of likes, quotes, and reposts on the platform, which now boasts 24.7 million users.

Bluesky software engineer Dan Abramov, who previously worked on React and Redux at Meta, responded to the discovery by cautioning users that the list of features shown in the UI mockup "doesn't necessarily match what will be released." He emphasized that the "coming soon" label is merely a test of the UI treatment for upcoming features and does not indicate a definitive timeline for the subscription's launch.

Despite the warnings that nothing is final, Bluesky users are eagerly discussing the possibilities of a Bluesky subscription, with some criticizing the proposed paid features and others suggesting alternative features they would like to see included. The company is also exploring other revenue streams, including selling domain names, a marketplace of algorithms, and potentially selling ads, according to Bluesky CEO Jay Graber.

Bluesky has been contacted for further comment, and this story will be updated if more information becomes available. As the company continues to develop its subscription model, it will be interesting to see how it balances the need to generate revenue with the desire to maintain a user-friendly and accessible platform.

The implications of Bluesky's subscription model extend beyond the company itself, as it could potentially influence the broader social media landscape. As users increasingly expect more from their online platforms, startups like Bluesky are under pressure to innovate and provide value-added services that justify the cost. Whether Bluesky's premium features will be enough to convince users to pay remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the social media landscape is evolving, and startups like Bluesky are at the forefront of this change.