Bluesky Introduces Privacy-First Contact Uploading Method

Bluesky has introduced a privacy-first method for uploading contacts, addressing significant user data privacy concerns associated with social media platforms. According to 9to5Mac, traditional social media apps often require users to grant access to their entire contacts list, inadvertently sharing others' personal data without consent.

Bluesky's approach differs by ensuring that contact matching occurs only if both parties have opted into the 'Find Friends' feature, safeguarding against unwanted exposure. Users must verify their phone numbers before any matching occurs, preventing misuse by bad actors.

Furthermore, Bluesky stores phone numbers as hashed pairs, making it more difficult to reverse-engineer the data. Users also retain control, with the option to delete their uploaded contacts at any time.

However, a potential downside is that Bluesky cannot inform users about contacts already on the platform, leading to possible duplicate invitations. This innovative method underscores the growing demand for transparency and control over personal information in the digital age.