Bluesky has launched a new feature called “Saved Posts,” offering users a private bookmarking option within the social network. Announced on Monday, the feature introduces a bookmark icon located beneath each post, adjacent to the like button.
The “Saved” section, accessible from the app’s main navigation, allows users to view their bookmarked posts. This new functionality provides a private alternative to likes, which are public on Bluesky.
The need for private bookmarks stems from the public nature of user data on Bluesky, where likes are visible to others. Bookmarks address this by allowing users to save content without publicly signaling their interest. This is particularly useful for journalists, who may want to save posts for research purposes without broadcasting their investigative focus, or for individuals who wish to bookmark content of a more personal nature.
The challenge of public likes influencing user behavior is not unique to Bluesky. Last year, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) hid public likes due to concerns that they could discourage engagement with “edgy” content or negatively impact users’ public image. According to X employees at the time, hiding likes was intended to prevent users from feeling pressured to conform to public opinion when expressing their preferences.
However, the AT Protocol, which underpins Bluesky, currently lacks support for private data, making it impossible to hide likes directly. To circumvent this limitation, Bluesky has implemented a system where bookmarks are stored “off-protocol,” ensuring their privacy, similar to how direct messages (DMs) are handled. The company has indicated that the bookmark system may be revised if the AT Protocol is updated to include native support for private data.
The introduction of saved posts is expected to boost user engagement on Bluesky, providing a dedicated space for curated content that users can easily revisit. This feature also serves as an alternative to the common practice of replying to posts with a red pushpin emoji, a workaround used by many Bluesky users to save posts. Bluesky has even included a migration tool to help users transition from the pushpin emoji method to the new Saved Posts feature.
