Politicians delete tweets. Celebrities scrub their timelines. Public figures rewrite their digital histories. In an era where social media posts can make or break careers, the pressure to erase controversial statements has never been higher.
For journalists, researchers, archivists, and civic-minded citizens, this creates a problem: how do you hold public figures accountable when their statements disappear?
The answer is systematic archiving. And with Bluesky emerging as a major platform for political discourse, having the right tools to archive politician Bluesky accounts has become essential.
Why Archive Public Figures on Bluesky?
As Bluesky grows, more politicians, government officials, journalists, and public figures are establishing presences on the platform. This migration from Twitter/X means that important public statements are now being made on Bluesky—statements that may later be deleted or modified.
The Deletion Problem
Public figures delete social media posts for many reasons:
- Controversy management – Removing statements that sparked public backlash
- Position changes – Erasing past stances that conflict with current messaging
- Legal concerns – Deleting posts that could be used against them
- Campaign strategy – Cleaning up timelines before elections
- PR cleanup – Removing anything that doesn't fit a carefully managed image
- Fact-check responses – Quietly removing debunked claims
Without archives, these deletions succeed in erasing the historical record. Regular archiving prevents this.
Who Should Archive Public Figure Accounts?
Journalists and News Organizations
Reporters covering politics, business, entertainment, and public affairs need timestamped records of what public figures have said. Archives provide:
- Evidence for fact-checking articles
- Documentation of flip-flops and contradictions
- Proof of statements that were later deleted
- Historical context for current stories
Researchers and Academics
Political scientists, sociologists, and communications researchers studying public discourse need comprehensive data sets. Archived Bluesky accounts provide:
- Complete posting histories for analysis
- JSON data for quantitative research
- Timestamped records for longitudinal studies
- Preserved data even if accounts are deleted
Archivists and Librarians
Digital preservation professionals recognize that social media posts are primary historical sources. Archiving ensures:
- Future generations can access the historical record
- Public statements are preserved for posterity
- Digital history isn't lost to deletions and platform changes
Civic Organizations and Activists
Groups focused on government accountability, transparency, and civic engagement use archives to:
- Track politician promises and follow-through
- Document public official conduct
- Support advocacy and campaign efforts
- Provide evidence for public interest litigation
Opposition Researchers
Political campaigns and parties archive opponent statements for:
- Debate preparation
- Advertising and messaging
- Rapid response operations
- Long-term strategy development
How to Archive Bluesky Accounts for Accountability
Skyscraper's Bluesky archive tool makes preserving public figure accounts simple and affordable:
- Visit api.getskyscraper.com/tools
- Enter the public figure's Bluesky handle (e.g.,
aoc.bsky.social) - Click to generate the archive
- Download the ZIP file containing the complete archive
- Store securely with date labels for future reference
The entire process takes just seconds for most accounts.
What's in the Archive?
Every archive is delivered as a simple ZIP file containing:
HTML Files
Human-readable format perfect for:
- Quick reference and browsing
- Sharing with editors or colleagues
- Printing for physical records
- Viewing without technical tools
- Including in reports or presentations
JSON Files
Machine-readable data ideal for:
- Database storage and querying
- Quantitative analysis
- Integration with research tools
- Long-term archival storage
- Cross-referencing with other data sources
The JSON includes complete metadata: timestamps, engagement metrics, reply counts, and all associated data for each post.
Pricing for Serious Archivists
Skyscraper's archive tool offers affordable solutions for systematic archiving:
Skyscraper Tools Basic – $5/month or $20/year
- 2 archives per day
- Full HTML and JSON exports
- 36-hour download links
Perfect for occasional use or individual archivists.
Skyscraper Tools Premium – $20/month or $200/year
- Up to 10 archives per day
- All Basic tier features
- Priority processing
- Ideal for journalists and researchers
At $200/year, that's comprehensive archiving capability for professional needs.
Compare this to hiring researchers, building custom tools, or losing access to deleted statements entirely. Professional archiving at accessible pricing.
Best Practices for Public Figure Archiving
Establish a Regular Schedule
Don't wait for controversial moments to archive. Set up a regular schedule:
- Weekly: Archive key political figures you're actively covering
- Monthly: Archive secondary accounts in your beat
- Immediately: Archive any account making news before potential deletions
Create a Priority List
With Premium allowing 10 archives per day, prioritize:
- Elected officials in your coverage area
- Candidates during election seasons
- Government agencies and official accounts
- Major public figures in your beat
- Accounts frequently involved in controversies
Organize Your Archives
- Use consistent naming:
accountname_YYYY-MM-DD.zip - Store in organized folder structures by person or topic
- Maintain a spreadsheet tracking what's been archived and when
- Back up archives to multiple locations (local + cloud)
Act Fast on Breaking News
When a public figure makes a controversial statement:
- Screenshot immediately (for quick evidence)
- Archive the full account (for complete context)
- Note the exact post URL and timestamp
- Monitor for deletions in the following hours
Legal Considerations
Archiving public social media posts is generally legal, but considerations vary by jurisdiction and use case:
Generally Permissible Uses
- Journalism – Reporting on public statements is protected speech
- Research – Academic study of public discourse
- Civic accountability – Tracking elected official statements
- Personal reference – Keeping records for your own use
Proceed with Caution
- Commercial use – Monetizing archived content may have restrictions
- Harassment – Using archives to target individuals
- Misrepresentation – Taking posts out of context
We recommend consulting with legal counsel for specific use cases, especially for news organizations and researchers.
The Future of Social Media Accountability
As social media becomes increasingly central to public discourse, the ability to preserve and verify public statements grows more important. Politicians and public figures will continue to use platforms like Bluesky to communicate with constituents and the public.
Tools like Skyscraper's archive service ensure that the historical record remains intact, supporting:
- Transparent democracy
- Informed public discourse
- Accountable leadership
- Accurate historical preservation
- Quality journalism
Start Archiving Today
Whether you're a journalist covering politics, a researcher studying public discourse, an archivist preserving digital history, or a citizen who believes in accountability—regular archiving is essential.
Visit Skyscraper's Bluesky Tools and start preserving the historical record:
- Simple ZIP downloads with HTML and JSON
- Basic for 2 archives daily ($5/month or $20/year)
- Premium for 10 archives daily ($20/month or $200/year)
- No technical skills required
- Archives ready in seconds
Public statements matter. Deletions shouldn't erase history. Archive the accounts that matter →