New Tool on DH.N: Bluesky Fandom Handles

Social media application Bluesky has seen a surge in new users lately, including among hockey fans and journalists.

One of the differences between Bluesky and some other social media networks is how account verification happens. There are no “blue checks” to apply for (or purchase), instead users have the option of switching their handle to a domain that they control, thus proving that they are who they say they are. DH.N controls the detroithockey.net domain, for example, so the DH.N account on Bluesky is simply @detroithockey.net. “Unverified” account handles end in bsky.social.

But, technologically speaking, you don’t need to control a domain in order to use it as a Bluesky handle. You just need the person who controls the domain to let you do it. Over a year ago I wondered if that might give rise to “vanity” Bluesky handles.

I have zero interest in coding this right now so just spitballing a bit… Bsky handles are just domains. I own a bunch of hockey-related domains. Would people be interested in the ability to have their handle be @<user>.detroit.hockey or @<user>.griffins.hockey (for example)?

— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey.net) October 21, 2023 at 11:57 AM

I didn’t have interest in coding that at that time, when so many fewer hockey fans were on the platform, but a lot has changed since then. With more hockey fans on Bluesky, it seems like this idea is something that might be used a bit more than it would have then.

So, over on the DH.N Projects site, there is now a new tool available: Bluesky Fandom Handles.

To start, four hockey-themed domains are a part of this service: detroit.hockey, griffins.hockey, hockey.town, and (for our sibling site, FantasyHockeySim.com) fantasyhockey.app. There’s one more Red Wings-themed domain that might get added if anyone actually uses this.

This means that if you’re currently @mazurfan43.bsky.social and you want to become @mazurfan43.griffins.hockey, you can do it. Or maybe @trusttheyzerplan.bsky.social was already taken and you had to settle for something else, now you can instead be @trusttheyzerplan.hockey.town.

I have no idea if this will get much use. I kind of have the feeling that it’ll be a lot like the dearly-departed mastodon.hockey: Something people asked for but then never took advantage of. But it’s out there now for anyone who wants to use it.