Bluesky Feeds: A Breakdown of Feeds and How to Add Them to Customize Your Timeline

Bluesky allows you to add feeds and choose which posts to view using custom algorithms. Here’s what you need to know about this feature and how to use it.

In this article, we’ll explain the basics of Bluesky Feeds, a key feature of the platform’s user experience. Bluesky is emerging as a major alternative to X, and many users are betting on it for the future. However, its functionality differs significantly from X or Threads due to its unique feed system.

Bluesky doesn’t rely on algorithms to display content. Instead, you follow people and see a chronological timeline of their posts. However, you can manually install custom algorithms or create your own. Here’s how to install them to explore different types of content.

What Are Bluesky Feeds?

On social media platforms, a “feed” refers to the wall or screen where users view posts. Most platforms use algorithms to mix posts from people you follow with posts from others, aiming to show content tailored to your interests.

These algorithmic feeds, however, have drawbacks. You may miss posts from people you follow, and the order of posts can be jumbled, with older content appearing before more recent updates.

Additionally, algorithm-driven feeds can create biases, showing only content the system predicts you’ll like. This can influence your thinking and amplify viral posts, often overshadowing less popular ones.

Bluesky takes a different approach. It offers a single timeline displaying posts from accounts you follow in chronological order. You can also install custom algorithms and create alternate timelines.

You can build your own algorithms or use high-quality ones developed by others. These range from simple formulas—like filtering by language, hashtags, or mentions—to more complex algorithms that include posts from users you don’t follow but who follow you. Some mimic the content-curation systems of other platforms to highlight topics of interest.

All of this is managed through the Feeds section, where you can browse for new feeds, manage existing ones, and enhance your experience. Feeds and algorithms are organized and separated for easy navigation.

Feeds can be either anchored or unanchored. Anchored feeds appear on your main Bluesky screen, making them easy to access, while unanchored feeds are only available through the Feeds section.

How to Install Feeds on Bluesky

To add new algorithms in Bluesky, click the Feeds section on the left-hand column of the website. On mobile, open the menu to access the same options.

Once there, you’ll see the My Feeds section at the top, displaying all feeds you’ve added, both anchored and unanchored. Below that is the Discover New Feeds section, where you can browse or search for feeds to add.

To add a feed, visit its profile and click the Pin to Home button to anchor it to your main screen. Alternatively, choose Save to my feeds to add it to your list without anchoring it.

Each feed has a unique URL you can share. For instance, I recommend the feed Journalists on Bluesky, a curated list of respected journalists who post regularly.

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