Bluesky Implements Age Verification for Texas Users After Court Lifts Injunction

Bluesky users accessing the social network from Texas IP addresses are now subject to age verification, following a federal appeals court decision to lift an injunction on a state law targeting mobile app stores. This development impacts adult entertainment industry professionals and performers who have adopted Bluesky as an alternative platform.

Texas Law and Bluesky's Response

On July 1, 2026, Bluesky users in Texas began reporting age-gating measures. Users logging in from Texas IP addresses are prompted to verify their age and identity. This verification process involves providing the last four digits of a Social Security number, confirming a credit card through Stripe, or submitting an ID scan using Veriff.

The Texas law in question is Senate Bill (SB) 2420. This law aims to hold mobile app stores liable if minors view explicit content on apps, including social networks. The Bluesky Safety account announced on Tuesday that the platform is "preparing to comply" with the Texas law. This decision came after a federal appeals court lifted an injunction that a lower court had placed on the law due to concerns about potential First Amendment violations.

Two weeks prior to this development, AVN reported on the "deja vu" expressed by plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Texas, who are once again challenging age verification at the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS). Special interest groups, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) and the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), filed petitions for potential certiorari to the high court in mid-June. These petitions sought to temporarily prevent the enforcement of the Texas law, which mandates age verification at the app store level, to allow litigation at the federal district court to proceed.

Despite these legal challenges, Bluesky's management has moved toward compliance. A June 30 post from Bluesky Safety linked to a statement from the CCIA, noting that the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay on enforcing SB 2420 at the end of May 2026. The issue may not be resolved quickly, as the current SCOTUS term has ended, and the court is not scheduled to reconvene until the fall.

Previous Age Assurance Implementations

Bluesky has previously implemented age assurance measures in other jurisdictions. In December 2025, Bluesky updated its approach to age assurance in the UK and Australia. Australia's law, effective December 10, prohibits users under 16 from using social media and requires platforms to protect users under 18 from certain content. In response, Bluesky began requiring new users in Australia to complete age assurance using Kids Web Services (KWS), the same partner used in other jurisdictions with similar requirements.

For users in Australia who are 18 or over, full platform access is granted. Users aged 16 or over but under 18 have adult-appropriate content made inaccessible, and features like direct messaging are disabled.

Bluesky also applied these updates to users in Mississippi. Access for users 18 or over in Mississippi was restored by requiring them to complete age assurance. Previously, Bluesky had completely blocked Mississippi IP addresses, citing the difficulty of implementing an age verification system for a smaller social media company. Bluesky stated on December 8 that it continues to believe Mississippi law limits free speech and disproportionately harms smaller platforms. The platform also stated it would not track children's online conduct in detail or build the extensive verification systems, parental consent workflows, and compliance infrastructure required by Mississippi law. However, because the technical means existed to offer a choice for older users, Bluesky allowed them to decide if they were comfortable confirming they were at least 18 years old.

To use the platform in Mississippi, users must verify their age by providing an email address, which sends a link to the Kids Web Service portal. There, individuals can prove their age by providing the last four digits of their Social Security number, submitting a picture of their photo ID, or swiping a credit card. Users are also required to provide their first and last names, birthdays, and addresses.

Workarounds and Industry Impact

Bluesky's age assurance measures have prompted users to seek workarounds. One method involves using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect from outside the user's location, bypassing the age assurance requirements entirely. Recommended VPN services include Mullvad, IVPN, or ProtonVPN.

Another workaround involves using third-party clients. Users are not restricted to the official Bluesky app; third-party forks and clients such as Klearsky or TOKIMEKI currently do not implement these restrictions. However, these alternatives are effective only as long as their developers do not implement similar age assurance measures or block users.

Custom adblock filter rules can also be employed. Specific filter rules can be added to an adblocker to modify geolocation data and age assurance configuration, effectively bypassing the checks.

The implementation of age verification on Bluesky is a noteworthy development for the adult entertainment industry. Many professionals and performers have adopted Bluesky as an alternative to larger platforms like X and Instagram. The new requirements in Texas, following similar measures in the UK, Australia, and Mississippi, indicate a growing trend of age assurance on social media platforms in response to regional laws.

Key Facts

• Bluesky users in Texas are now subject to age verification due to Senate Bill (SB) 2420.
• Verification methods include providing the last four digits of a Social Security number, credit card confirmation via Stripe, or an ID scan using Veriff.
• A federal appeals court lifted an injunction on SB 2420, prompting Bluesky to prepare for compliance.
• Special interest groups, SEAT and CCIA, filed petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent enforcement of the Texas law.
• Bluesky previously implemented age assurance in the UK, Australia, and Mississippi, using Kids Web Services (KWS).
• Workarounds for age verification include using VPNs, third-party clients like Klearsky or TOKIMEKI, and custom adblock filter rules.