Bluesky Adds Group Chats in Push Toward Community Features

Bluesky has launched group chats, enabling users to create conversations with up to 50 participants. The feature, now available in app version 1.124, allows chat creators to manage participation and generate shareable invite links. Participants can set preferences for who can invite them, with a default limited to people they follow.

The update is part of Bluesky’s broader shift toward community-focused tools. Head of Product Alex Benzer described communities as smaller, more targeted spaces within the larger network, where users can engage more deeply around shared interests. Future plans include dedicated community handles, options for public, invite-only, or private settings, and greater support for developer contributions through the AT Protocol.

This direction comes as Bluesky’s overall growth has slowed. The platform currently has around 44.8 million registered users, significantly smaller than X’s 600 million monthly active users. By emphasizing controlled, private interactions, Bluesky aims to differentiate itself from larger competitors that prioritize broad public posting.

The timing follows X’s decision in April to shut down its Communities feature due to low engagement and spam issues. Bluesky appears to be positioning itself as an alternative for users seeking more ownership and moderation over their online spaces. Group chats currently do not support media sharing, as the company is still developing additional safety and moderation systems.

Bluesky also added personalized QR codes for easier profile sharing in the latest update. These changes reflect a strategic pivot from competing directly on scale to offering more intentional, community-driven experiences. As users grow weary of algorithmic feeds and moderation challenges on major platforms, features like group chats may help smaller networks attract users looking for focused interaction.