Using your Aiir website domain as a Bluesky handle

Bluesky is a fast-growing social network powered by the open AT Protocol. Work on the protocol began at Twitter under founder Jack Dorsey and later became independent.

Bluesky is one of many apps built on top of the AT Protocol, meaning should anything happen to the Bluesky app as it exists today, users can switch to another without losing their posts, followers etc.

The AT Protocol uses domain names instead of usernames. By default, a handle will be generated by the app you use when you first sign up, but you can switch this to your station's web domain to verify the account's authenticity.

Using a custom domain on Bluesky and other apps using the AT Protocol makes it easy for your followers to know they are following a verified account, as only accounts that have proven ownership of the domain listed will be able to use it.

Verifying your domain using DNS

This is the recommended way to verify your domain, as it allows you to set up multiple users like @journalist.station.fm and @presenter.station.fm.

1. Open the menu by pressing your profile picture thumbnail and scroll down to Settings > Advanced > Change my handle

   
   

   

2. On the "Change my handle" screen, press "I have my own domain."

   
   

   

3. Tap "Copy Domain Value"

   
   

   

4. Go to your domain's control panel and locate your DNS settings or zone file. This will likely be through your registrar - the company you originally bought your website domain from - or possibly a third-party DNS service like CloudFlare.
5. Create a new TXT record called "_atproto." or "_atproto.[subdomain]" if you want to use a subdomain. Paste the value provided by your app in the appropriate field.
6. Save your changes
7. Return to your app and press "Verify DNS Record".

Verifying your domain through Aiir

1. Open the menu by pressing your profile picture thumbnail and scroll down to Settings > Advanced > Change my handle

   
   

   

2. On the "Change my handle" screen, press "I have my own domain."

   
   

   

3. Choose "No DNS Panel" and then press "Copy File Contents"
4. Log in to the Aiir content management system.
5. From the main menu, go to 'Site Settings' and then 'Files'.
6. Create a new file matching the path specified in your app. For example, if Bluesky needs a file uploading to https://station.fm/.well-known/atproto-did, enter the file name ".well-known/atproto-did" in Aiir.

7. Paste the content into your new file and save your changes.

   
   

   

8. Return to your app and press "Verify Text File"

These records must remain in place for your domain to remain verified in apps that use the AT Protocol. If either your DNS record or text file is removed, your account will show as having an "Invalid handle" until they are set up again.