Bluesky, the decentralized social network, has begun testing a "Trending Topics" feature.
This feature, announced on December 25, 2024, allows users worldwide to discover what is trending on the platform. Trending topics are visible on both the mobile app and the desktop version.
Trending topics are in the right-hand sidebar on the desktop. They can be found on the mobile app by tapping the search button. Currently, this feature is only available in English.

Bluesky ensures users have control over their experiences and allows them to turn off trending topics if they don't want to see them. To do so, they must navigate to Settings > Content and Media and uncheck the "Enable Trending Topics" option. Additionally, the platform respects muted content, so any words or phrases you have muted will not appear in the trending section.
Bluesky identifies this release as the feature's first iteration, with future updates based on user feedback. While this is a new feature on the platform, several third-party apps, such as Graysky, introduced a similar feature last year.
This platform isn't the only one that explores trending topics. Threads, a rival platform, began rolling out its version of this feature to users in the US in March, followed by testing in Japan in October. Despite the competition, Bluesky's move signals its commitment to keeping the platform engaging and up-to-date.

Launching trending topics is a significant milestone, as Bluesky has reached 25 million users. This growth follows increased interest in decentralized platforms after the US presidential election.
The feature adds to a growing list of updates, including the recently introduced mentions tab, making tracing conversations easier.