So you want a custom Bluesky name? If you have your own domain, setting it up is straightforward. I’m @gogo.juicybomb.com on Bluesky. I intended to write a tutorial, but fortunately, Bluesky already offers an excellent guide: How to verify your Bluesky account.
If you want to be known as @yourdomain.com, simply set up the TXT record at your hosting company or your domain registrar. If you have a domain name without a hosting plan, you should set up the TXT record with your domain name registrar. On the other hand, if you have a hosting plan associated with your domain name, you will configure the TXT record at your hosting company. If you want to be recognized as @anyword.yourdomain.com, create a subdomain and then add the TXT record on that subdomain. You can set up as many TXT records as you want to, even for different domains. They will all resolve to your account.
If you decide to obtain a custom name on Bluesky, be aware that as soon as you acquire your new name, you will have released your old name for anyone else to claim. For instance, I was initially @juicybomb.bsky.social. Once I changed to @gogo.juicybomb.com, I recreated juicybomb to ensure that no one else could use it. This gives me the flexibility to revert to it in the future, should I choose to discontinue using my domain. To revert, simply delete the username you are holding and rename your current account.
I have observed many Second Life residents using @name.secondlife.bio on Bluesky. However, I must caution you against this choice. This domain is not officially owned by Second Life or Linden Lab; rather, it is owned by a resident. While it is commendable that they are offering this service, if their domain is not renewed, you will lose your username. It will cease to resolve, prompting Bluesky to ask you to create a new one (although you will not lose your posts or account—only your username will change). Beyond the risk of losing your username, I also have concerns regarding impersonation. Since these accounts are not verified, anyone could request @yourname.secondlife.bio.
I am genuinely curious when Second Life will address the use of the domain name by SecondLife.bio, as it clearly violates their Domain Name Guidelines.
OK, I’ll bite, what is Bluesky? It’s not Mastodon? But it’s another twitter alternative? I’d like to be on as few platforms as possible, but I might sign up for something where SL residents are active. Is Bluesky heavily used for SL?
The big SL platforms that I’ve noticed are Plurk, Flickr, and Discord. IDK if Plurk is still used or has faded out. Plurk is a platform that always looked cool, but also always confused me! 😛
Flickr seems to be so busy with SL! Sadly, as a new avatar, the first photo I uploaded just happened to be dancing at Warehouse 21. I was fully clothed, but the person dancing next to me had pasties on — I assume this is the reason Flickr insta-banned me! 🙁
Which leaves Discord. Discord definitely seems to be the rage for a while now.
And Bluesky… hahaha… I’m a little slow! This is the first I’ve heard of it. Thanks for enlightening me!! 😀
I’m into X/Twitter for engaging with a wide variety of SLers. Flickr is great, but it’s not a Social Media platform, although there’s lots of engagement there. I use Plurk too, but I don’t link that anywhere because I’ve been on that platform for decades but I won’t add new friends, I’m happy with the 100 or so people im engaging with there. Bluesky is new Twitter wannabe, it’s okay but a smaller pool of people than X. I love Discord for chatting with friends!