Bluesky is adding account verification in the form of an “easily recognizable blue check.” But when it comes to individual users, the privilege has to be earned, not requested or paid for. “Bluesky will proactively verify authentic and notable accounts and display a blue check next to their names,” the Jack Dorsey-founded microblogging social platform announced. Select independent organizations are able to “verify accounts directly” using Trusted Verifiers, but Bluesky will review those as well. Since 2023, the company has allowed domain names to be registered as Bluesky account handles, but users indicated “a larger visual signal would be useful.” Continue reading Bluesky Rolls Out Check Certification for Authentic Accounts

Beginning October 15, YouTube Shorts will extend its maximum length to 3 minutes. The move competitively positions the Google unit against TikTok, which allows for videos of up to 10 minutes when recording, or an hour when uploading. Regular YouTube accommodates videos of up to 12 hours for verified accounts and 15 minutes for unverified accounts, whether live or uploaded. But in terms of marketing focus, the current attention is on short-form video. YouTube is also updating the Shorts player, adding templates, and introducing a Shorts trends page for mobile. Continue reading YouTube Updates Shorts Player, Extends Length to 3 Minutes