FACT CHECK: No, Bluesky Did Not Put Out Ads That Read ‘No Incels’ And ‘No Trolls’
Images shared on X allegedly show advertisements for the social media platform Bluesky with the text “No Incels” and “No Trolls.”
holy shit what are they doing https://t.co/b9UOlRIdDl pic.twitter.com/hLkEey7mGb
— taoki (@justalexoki) December 7, 2024
Verdict: False
These images are the work of a street artist and do not officially represent Bluesky.
Fact Check:
Bluesky saw a large influx of new users after people sought to flee from X due to the content being widely shared there, according to The Guardian. Bluesky began as a project within X, but is now owned by Jay Graber and has become a place for those who are unhappy with things like hate speech and misinformation on X to go, according to the outlet.
An X post purports to show an ad for Bluesky that suggests the platform is against a certain type of person. The alleged ads show two different men with a red circle crossing them out. Above the graphics are the words “No Incels” and “No Trolls.” “Bluesky” is seen at the bottom of each ad.
“holy shit what are they doing,” the caption reads.
These images do not officially represent Bluesky, however. The technical advisor for Bluesky wrote on the platform, “To be clear, this is not us. We dont (sic) know who is doing this.”
To be clear, this is not us. We dont know who is doing this.
A Bluesky spokesperson reiterated this sentiment in an email to Check Your Fact. (RELATED: No, Bill Ackman Did Not Make A Post Suggesting Potential Bluesky Acquisition)
These ads are the work of street artist Winston Tseng, who has created art in a similar style before. Tseng posted images of the illustrations to his Instagram. Check Your Fact previously debunked a claim that his art actually depicted NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) ads that had an anti-MAGA message.
Check Your Fact reached out to a Bluesky spokesperson for comment.
