It’s been a long road for Bluesky, the AT Protocol–powered social network that emerged from Twitter’s own research labs and rapidly evolved into a bustling hub for those seeking an alternative to the mainstream feeds. One constant critique, however, was its relatively rudimentary notification system—until this week. On July 7, 2025, Bluesky rolled out a suite of notification upgrades that finally bring it in line with seasoned players like Instagram and X (née Twitter), while also carving its own path with unique Activity Notifications for the accounts you care about most.

Before this update, Bluesky users often found themselves overwhelmed by generic alerts or starved of timely pings, depending on how sparingly they’d toggled the lone “priority notifications” switch. The result? Either missed breaking-news scoops or unending dings for every like, mention, and follow. Instagram and X—both beneficiaries of more than a decade of iteration—offered granular controls for when and why you get notified. Bluesky, by comparison, felt like a fresh café that hadn’t quite nailed its espresso shot.

That changes now with three core enhancements:

1. Activity Notifications: Opt in to get push and in-app alerts from specific accounts by tapping the new bell icon on their profile.
2. Enhanced Notification Settings: Choose who (Everyone, People You Follow, or No One) can trigger each type of notification—replies, mentions, quotes, likes, reposts, followers, and a catch‑all “Everything Else.”
3. Repost Tracking: Stay on top of how your curated content resonates by receiving notifications when someone likes or reposts one of your reposts.

Perhaps the most transformative tweak is Activity Notifications, a feature that mirrors the bells-and-whistles approach of platforms like X. Simply visit a profile—be it a friend who always shares witty takes, a journalist covering unfolding events, or a sports outlet on the court or field—hit the bell icon, and you’ll never miss a post, whether it’s an isolated thought or a thread of replies. Bluesky even lets you specify whether you want to see only top‑level posts or include replies in your feed of alerts.

Bluesky’s team envisions this as a game-changer for news consumption. Imagine toggling alerts for ESPN and being the first to spot a blockbuster trade or a sudden game‑winning buzzer‑beater. And for those who thrive on friend‑group banter, you can be the first to “like” your pal’s latest vacation pic or off‑the‑cuff rant.

For too long, users have had to choose between “all or nothing” notifications. Now, under Settings > Notifications, Bluesky offers a dropdown for each interaction type—Replies, Mentions, Quotes, Likes, Reposts, New Followers, Likes of Your Reposts, Reposts of Your Reposts, and “Everything Else.” Within each, pick:

• Everyone: You’ll know about every single interaction.
• People you follow: Only your inner circle’s actions make the cut.
• No one: Time to go radio‑silent if you need a break.

Mobile push toggles live alongside these options, so you can mute some alerts while still catching others in‑app. And if you were already using priority notifications, rest easy—those settings have been seamlessly migrated into this new structure.

These notification upgrades dovetail neatly with other recent Bluesky innovations. In late April, Bluesky introduced its “Authentic and Notable” verification program—complete with circular blue checks for verified users and scalloped checks for “Trusted Verifiers” like The New York Times. The goal? To help users instantly spot credible voices without wading through imposter content.

On the cutting edge of real‑time engagement, Bluesky is also piloting a “Live Now” badge for Twitch and YouTube streams. Select accounts—ranging from NBA team feeds to individual streamers—can link their live streams, prompting followers to click through to coverage as it happens. It’s a lightweight nod to Twitter’s sports‑streaming heyday, designed to keep the focus on discovery rather than locking content behind proprietary deals.