Bluesky lets you control what content you see by adjusting your content filter settings
Bluesky has a built-in system that lets you decide what kinds of content appear in your feed. By default, the app hides posts marked as adult content — but you can change this setting whenever you want. The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way on phone and desktop.
Adult content on Bluesky includes posts marked by their creators as containing sexual material, nudity, or other explicit subjects. When you adjust your settings, you are telling Bluesky's system which of these posts should show up in your feed and which should stay hidden. You can turn this on or off at any time, and the change takes effect immediately.
Key Takeaways
- Adult content filtering is controlled through your account settings, not through a separate app or website.
- You need to access your preferences menu and find the content moderation section to change this setting.
- The setting applies to your entire feed — you cannot hide adult content from some people and show it from others.
- Changing this setting does not affect what other users see; it only changes what appears in your own feed.
Finding Your Settings on Mobile
Open the Bluesky app and tap the menu icon in the bottom right corner. This is three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, sometimes called a hamburger menu. Tap it and you will see a list of options including Settings.
Once you are in Settings, look for the section labeled "Moderation" or "Content Moderation." Tap on it. You will see several options related to what content Bluesky shows you. Find the option that says something like "Show adult content" or "Explicit content" — the exact wording can vary slightly depending on when you last updated the app.
Toggle this option on if you want to see adult content, or leave it off if you want to keep it hidden. The change saves automatically, and you can close the settings menu. Your feed will update the next time you refresh it.
Finding Your Settings on Desktop
Go to Bluesky.social and log in if you are not already signed in. Look for your profile picture or avatar in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click on it to open a menu with several options.
Click on "Settings" from this menu. On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of categories. Find and click on "Moderation." This will open the content moderation settings on the right side of your screen.
Look for the toggle or checkbox next to "Show adult content" or similar wording. Click it to turn adult content on or off. The setting takes effect right away — you do not need to save or confirm anything. Close the settings page and return to your feed.
What Happens When You Turn Adult Content On
When you enable adult content, posts that creators have marked as explicit will now appear in your feed alongside other posts. These posts are marked by the people who create them, not by Bluesky's system — so the accuracy depends on creators labeling their own content correctly.
Turning this setting on does not change anything about how other people see your posts or your profile. It only affects what you see in your own feed. Other users will not know whether you have this setting on or off.
Turning Adult Content Back Off
If you change your mind and want to hide adult content again, follow the same steps you used to turn it on. Go back to Settings, find Moderation, and toggle the adult content option off. The change takes effect immediately, and adult-marked posts will stop appearing in your feed.
Posts you have already seen will not disappear from your history, but new posts marked as adult content will be hidden when you refresh your feed or scroll to new content.
Why Creators Mark Content as Adult
Creators mark their own posts as adult content for many reasons — not just sexual material. Some mark posts as adult because they contain graphic violence, disturbing images, or other content they think viewers should choose to see rather than encounter unexpectedly.
The marking system relies on creators to label their own posts honestly. Bluesky does not automatically scan posts to detect adult content. This means some posts that should be marked might not be, and some marked posts might not contain what you expect. If you see a post that is mislabeled, you can report it to Bluesky through the post's menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will people know if I have adult content turned on?
No. Your content moderation settings are private. Other users cannot see whether you have adult content enabled, and Bluesky does not share this information with anyone. Only you know what your settings are.
Can I hide adult content from specific people?
No. The adult content setting is all-or-nothing — it either shows adult-marked posts from everyone or hides them from everyone. If you want to avoid content from a specific person, you can mute or block them instead, which gives you more control over individual accounts.
What if I turn this setting on and then change my mind?
You can turn it back off anytime using the same steps. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times you can change this setting. The change takes effect immediately each time you toggle it.
Does this setting work the same way on the Bluesky app and the website?
Yes. Whether you use the mobile app or the desktop website, the setting controls the same thing and works the same way. If you change it on your phone, the change will also apply when you use the website, and vice versa.
What counts as adult content on Bluesky?
Adult content typically includes sexual material and nudity, but creators can also mark posts as adult if they contain graphic violence, disturbing imagery, or other content they think viewers should opt into seeing. The exact definition depends on what the creator decides to mark.