Bluesky lists are one of the platform's most powerful features for organizing your experience. Whether you want to create a custom feed or block groups of accounts, lists make it easy. Here's everything you need to know about Bluesky lists and how to use Skyscraper to read them.

What Are Bluesky Lists?

Bluesky lists are collections of user accounts that you can create, share, and subscribe to. Unlike following individual accounts, lists let you organize accounts by topic, community, or purpose.

There are two types of Bluesky lists:

1. Curation Lists

Curation lists organize accounts you want to follow or highlight:

  • Create custom feeds: See posts only from list members
  • Organize by topic: Group journalists, experts, or hobbyists
  • Share with others: Help people find accounts to follow
  • Pin to home: Access list feeds from your main view

2. Moderation Lists

Moderation lists help you manage unwanted accounts:

  • Mute lists: Hide posts from all accounts on the list
  • Block lists: Block all accounts on the list at once
  • Subscribe to community lists: Use lists created by others
  • Collaborative moderation: Share with your community

How Bluesky Lists Work

Creating a List

  1. Go to your profile
  2. Tap the Lists tab
  3. Tap New List
  4. Choose Curation List or Moderation List
  5. Add a name and description
  6. Add users by searching for their handles

Adding Users to a List

You can add users to lists in two ways:

  • From the list: Search and add users directly
  • From a profile: Tap the three-dot menu on any profile, then "Add to list"

Subscribing to a List

When you find a list you want to use:

  • Curation lists: Subscribe to pin the list as a feed
  • Moderation lists: Choose to mute or block all accounts

Using Skyscraper to Read Bluesky Lists

Skyscraper for iOS makes it easy to browse and use Bluesky lists:

Viewing Lists on Profiles

  1. Open Skyscraper and navigate to any user's profile
  2. Tap the Lists tab below their bio
  3. Browse all public lists they've created
  4. Tap a list to see all members

Subscribing to Curation Lists

  1. Find a curation list you want to follow
  2. Tap Subscribe
  3. The list appears as a feed option
  4. Pin it to your home view for quick access

Using Moderation Lists

  1. Find a moderation list (often shared for blocking spam or trolls)
  2. Tap Subscribe
  3. Choose Mute or Block
  4. All accounts on the list are now muted or blocked

Finding Useful Lists

Where to Find Lists

  • User profiles: Check the Lists tab on profiles in your niche
  • Starter packs: Many starter pack creators also maintain lists
  • Community recommendations: Ask in hashtags like #BlueSkyLists
  • Moderation communities: Groups share block lists for known bad actors

Popular List Types

  • Journalist lists: All journalists covering a beat
  • Industry lists: Experts in tech, sports, politics, etc.
  • Local lists: Accounts from a specific city or region
  • Event lists: Accounts covering conferences or events
  • Safety lists: Known spam, bots, or harassment accounts

Lists vs. Starter Packs

Both organize accounts, but they work differently:

Feature Lists Starter Packs
Purpose Ongoing organization One-time follow
Updates Dynamic (add/remove anytime) Static snapshot
Action Subscribe for feeds or moderation Follow all at once
Moderation Can mute/block entire list No moderation features

Tips for Using Lists

For Curation

  • Create topic-specific lists: Separate news, entertainment, hobbies
  • Share your lists: Help others discover good accounts
  • Combine with feeds: Lists can power custom algorithmic feeds

For Moderation

  • Subscribe to trusted lists: Community-maintained block lists save time
  • Start with mute: Try muting before blocking to see the effect
  • Review periodically: Accounts may change behavior over time

For Growing Your Following

  • Get added to lists: Being on popular lists increases visibility
  • Create valuable lists: Others will share and credit you
  • Network with list creators: Engage with people who curate in your niche

Advanced: Lists API for Developers

For developers building Bluesky apps, lists use the app.bsky.graph.list record type. See our developer guide to Bluesky Lists for API examples.

Start Using Bluesky Lists

Lists are one of Bluesky's best features for organizing your experience. Start using them today.

Download Skyscraper for iOS →