Hey Skyfolks! Just a reminder: there is no algorithm on Bsky, so us artists and creators rely heavily on RTs to get our work out there. If you see a post from an artist or creator that you like, please RT generously! It helps us a lot ❤️ Thank you!
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Some clarification!! Some people have been pointing out that there is technically an algorithm since there's a Discovery feed. It's true - I stand corrected! What I meant to say is there's no centralized algorithm like on Twitter/IG.
Which goes back to my original point, that is RTs are worth a lot here as it increases your chance of showing up on other people's feeds. I hope that makes sense!
The way I understand it is everyone starts with a default algorithm that learns a bit from their initial behavior, and then the user is supposed to customize the algo/feed to their preferences. If a user's feed configuration doesn't pick up a creator's post, they'll never see that creator.
Huh, weird that you showed up on my feed without any of my followers retweeting it. It’s almost like there’s an official algorithm-driven “discovery” feed on Bluesky…
I actually do think there is an algorithm, but I do believe retweets and interactions can help support the algorithm and find more people we are looking for.
There is an algorithm, it's just different.
What I've noticed is the "discover" feed rarely shows me accounts I actually follow, so it's a good way to find new people. Or other feeds for more specific subjects. Interactions will definitely boost your chances to appear on someone's feeds.
Yeah I've noticed that too, once I had enough followers I would start to see them in Discover.
But it's still for a lot of new people which is a good thing imo. I can always find my followers in the Following feed.
Yup, and it's worth knowing that those algorithms are designed by whoever made the feed (any user can do that). So there is no guarantee that a feed will give the right content, or "fairly" represent smaller accounts. Many feeds only show manually selected accounts.
thank you for clarifying this. I was so confused about why a site with "no algorithm" was telling me to like 10 posts to teach said Algorithm that "didn't exist" 😂
Yeah "no algorithm" makes no sense, even if it just shows any recent posts, that is a simple algorithm.
I presume what they mean is that they believe the algorithm doesn't have specific slots for small amounts. I have no idea if that's true but it doesn't seem to be.
genuine question: if there's no algorithm, then what's the point of the "show more/less like this" option on posts, or how am I getting posts from people I don't follow and have no clear association with anyone I do?
Maybe not too generously? It's not having the intended effect if someone opens the app and has no actual posts from any of their friends on the feed, but 30+ pieces of art from artists they don't follow
i would reblog something 500 times if i wasnt ever aware of the damn blog limit tumblr has, its the only thing keeping me from perosnally adding 1000 reblog notes to every damn post i see
This is a very good one! I wanna add to it that the discovery feed also exists and that it's a good idea to add that one in! From my experience it has successfully showed me people that I didnt follow yet based on the things I interact with!
from what I learned too, retweets dont seem to show up on profiles? Unless im mistaken, but the way BSky handles media makes it easy to find the persons work while still being able to retweet stuff and not clog your page too much. Its good.
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Ah shoot, that sucks. At that point u just gotta block them and add muted keywords to make sure they don’t show up. I’m also pretty sure there’s a moderation feed you can subscribe to to block those folks out (I’m on mobile so I don’t know if I can’t find that stuff here. I’ll have to check)
How each feed works is up to the person who made the feed. Feeds are created with code so they’re very capable. Some work based on manual tagging, some are totally algorithmic, some are super personal like the 📌 which contains all the posts you’ve replied with to a pin emoji to.
Do you have to code something to make a feed that pins things like that or is it baked into the app? I don't see a feed called that on the list of feeds yet
This is getting some attention so I feel like it’s worth saying that if you want a good feed for discovering accounts I’d recommend the “Popular With Friends” feed. It’s where I’ve prob seen the coolest stuff on here.
I really ought to learn how to properly spread my work through Bluesky. I want to start having comissions soon but it feels so different from Twitter in that aspect.
No algorithm?? Oh gods, my Twitter dash of people I follow is a mess. Only the algorithm understood me 😩 I'm gonna have to figure out how to customize my timeline
There should still be an algorithm. I am a newly registered user, and there is a banner saying, “Like ten posts will help the algorithm understand you better.” It even made me think twice about whether I should like a post or not!
bluesky has over 50 thousand algorithms. you can pick and choose which ones you want to use, order them around and pick your default, and even create your own ones! by default, users start off with the Discover algorithm as their home and the Following algorithm is pinned next to it.
Bluesky does have algorithms, infact it has thousands of them and lets you choose which you want to use (called "feeds"). Here's a feed for artwork for example:
That's nice to read, just arrived to this platform and still figuring out how does it works!
Rising a new account from 0 is rly hard when you don't know anyone here
In that regard, this site is a lot like tumblr, but they've got the same problem of people liking way more than RTint/reblogging. And I've never understood why. To me, RTs are for posts i marginally like and likes are for posts i want to find again later. They're bookmarks to me
Correction: there IS an algorithm on Bsky, such as the "Discover" feed. However the RT aspect still holds up, and there is no "shadowban" or "engagement boost". Curate your custom feeds with tags, Skyfeed and blocklist to make it suit your needs!
I'm hoping more artists start tagging their art, because how else do you find it without an algorithm? 😭 I'm happy to rt if I can find what I'm interested in.
I'm not sure that's true. I just made an account and under the "Getting Started" achievement kind of things there is, "Like 10 posts: Teach our algorithm what you like." I'm sure it isn't as refined as Twit's, but it seems like there is an algorithm. That being said, still like and reshare cool art!
There is one for feeds like "Discover" and similar feeds that help you get started. But your personal timeline is mostly organic so what gets people's post and art onto the timeline is mostly reposts and comments
I think there's the ability to create independent feeds that have their own algorithm, but generally there is a lot more control over your own algo from what I see in Bsky. Their content moderation classifiers are likely proof that there is already an algo though.
Though yeah each independent feed looks like you can have more options rather than one singular "this is me" type of feed. Algo and feed can be used interchangeably though!
By default: positive interactions being more reach, negative interactions or benign interactions being less reach so you're pretty much right on the money
My thoughts, probably following and reposting fellow mutals while posting ya own works consistently. Interacting with others with the same interest to build connections seems to be the way.
I am usually too broke to comisdion anything but I always hope the artists get enough work and get paid well for it. Thank you all for your service! <3
Like I have my Discover page as my default and there is definitely an algorithm that tries to send you posts that are similar to accounts you follow or posts you like.
>there is no algorithm on Bsky
Yep, so if you don't initially have the audience you moved here from Twitter, you'll never make it out of obscurity. The algorithms on Twitter at least occasionally threw my tweets into the big feed, here I'm just sitting in the void🥲
But it's still better than Musk.
custom feeds are algorithms! your feed settings are a kind of algorithm! it is far more accurate (and helpful!) to teach new users that bsky does not force *twitter's* algorithm design, but rather that we get to control and design our own setups.
fortunately and unfortunately, for busy folk it'll be hard since it relies on a lot of networking,socializing and interacting to have RTs or end up in curated feeds and starter packs etc, without a freak viral algorithm moment
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What I've noticed is the "discover" feed rarely shows me accounts I actually follow, so it's a good way to find new people. Or other feeds for more specific subjects. Interactions will definitely boost your chances to appear on someone's feeds.
They also improved it a bit.
Though I wish it not show stuff ive already liked or reposted.
But it's still for a lot of new people which is a good thing imo. I can always find my followers in the Following feed.
Feeds is a great feature though.
I presume what they mean is that they believe the algorithm doesn't have specific slots for small amounts. I have no idea if that's true but it doesn't seem to be.
I guess this is a good way to cull the fat.
I´ll be retweeting more often then
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:y7crv2yh74s7qhmtx3mvbgv5/feed/art-new
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z72i7hdynmk6r22z27h6tvur/feed/with-friends
Thanks for the free advice! Followed you!
https://bsky.app/feeds
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:y7crv2yh74s7qhmtx3mvbgv5/feed/art-new
Rising a new account from 0 is rly hard when you don't know anyone here
can't wait for awful takes from y'all
time to start retweeting like my life depends on it.
*hits the heart button*
*hits the repost button*
*hits the follow button*
😁👍
Also words like Commission, Patreon are not scripted to attract bots or lower post views, so artists can use them without any fears!!
(人´▽`*)♪
Still good to retweet and like as it hugely helps, but there is definitely an algorithm! (There has to be for any social media to function)
Very appreciated
Yep, so if you don't initially have the audience you moved here from Twitter, you'll never make it out of obscurity. The algorithms on Twitter at least occasionally threw my tweets into the big feed, here I'm just sitting in the void🥲
But it's still better than Musk.
Reskeets are still very helpful tho because it increases your reach even more! 💞
that is i don't have follower so, i don't know RTs or Likes will help more