The Gross Censorship Problem on BlueSky
They Deleted My Account Without Warning—and I Demand Reinstatement
BlueSky promised to be different. It billed itself as a decentralized platform, free from the suffocating control and arbitrary moderation of corporate social media. It was supposed to be a place where users had real power and voices couldn’t be silenced without due process. But after my account was deleted without so much as an email or attempt to contact me, I’m here to tell you: BlueSky is failing its users and betraying its mission.
They Didn’t Even Try to Contact Me
Let’s get one thing straight: I wasn’t warned. I wasn’t contacted. My account, my digital voice on this so-called "decentralized" platform, was erased without a single attempt at communication. No email. No DM. Nothing. One moment, I was engaging with my community; the next, I was gone.
This isn’t just about me. It’s about every user who’s built their space on BlueSky with the understanding that it was a safe and fair platform—only to find out that they can be silenced without recourse or explanation. Is this what decentralization looks like? Because to me, it feels like the same centralized, opaque nonsense that we fled from on other platforms.
BlueSky’s Hypocrisy: Talk Decentralization, Act Authoritarian
BlueSky was supposed to be the antidote to platforms like Twitter, where opaque moderation decisions and arbitrary account bans are the norm. Yet here we are, with BlueSky revealing itself to be cut from the same cloth.
They talk about empowering users, but when it comes to practicing what they preach, they fall painfully short. Deleting accounts without warning or explanation is authoritarian, plain and simple. It contradicts every principle of decentralization and user control that the platform claims to uphold.
How are users supposed to trust BlueSky when their accounts—whether built for personal connection, professional outreach, or community engagement—can disappear in an instant? And when no effort is made to contact or resolve potential issues, it becomes clear that user trust is not a priority for BlueSky.
This Is Not Just Moderation—It’s Censorship
Let me be clear: moderation is necessary on any platform to combat harassment, hate speech, and other harmful behavior. But what happened to me isn’t moderation—it’s censorship.
By deleting my account without contacting me, BlueSky didn’t just silence my voice; it set a dangerous precedent. It demonstrated that dissenting voices, critical opinions, or even individuals who inadvertently violate an unwritten rule can be erased without so much as a conversation. This isn’t about safety; it’s about control.
I Demand Reinstatement—and Transparency for All Users
I refuse to accept this without a fight. BlueSky owes me an explanation and, more importantly, reinstatement. It’s not just my right; it’s a matter of principle. Platforms like BlueSky cannot call themselves champions of decentralization while wielding centralized power to delete accounts with impunity.
BlueSky must immediately:
Reinstate my account.
Provide a detailed explanation of why my account was deleted.
Commit to transparent moderation practices that prioritize contacting users before punitive actions are taken.
Develop and enforce a clear appeals process for users whose accounts are moderated.
A Call to Action for the BlueSky Community
This isn’t just about my account; it’s about every user on BlueSky. If we don’t demand accountability now, we’re paving the way for the same injustices we fled from elsewhere. BlueSky’s leadership needs to take a long, hard look at their values and decide if they’re going to live up to them or become yet another platform that silences without reason.
To the users of BlueSky: hold the platform accountable. Speak up. Demand better. And to BlueSky itself: do the right thing. Reinstate my account. Implement real, transparent policies. Restore the trust you’ve so carelessly undermined.
If BlueSky cannot uphold its promises of fairness and decentralization, it doesn’t deserve to call itself different. It doesn’t deserve to call itself BlueSky and is no better than Elon Musk’s Twitter.