The chief executive of social media network Bluesky – which has exploded in popularity in recent weeks – was unable to give the correct age limit for users on the platform in an interview with the BBC.

Jay Graber incorrectly stated that you must be 18 to use Bluesky, when the actual age limit is 13.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast show, Graber also said the company had chosen not to verify the age of its users on the platform, with concerns about how that data would then be handled.

Millions of people have signed up to the app since the US election results, some in protest at the role X, formerly Twitter, played in propelling Donald Trump to victory.

Ms. Graber attributed the rapid growth to the “really good” experience users had on Bluesky.

“There isn’t harassment and bots and spam and a lot of other problems that plague other platforms,” ​​she said.

As for age verification, Graber told the BBC that Bluesky has “age limits” when users sign up, by asking people to enter their date of birth.

When asked directly what the age limit was on Bluesky, Graber said, “When you sign up — I’ll have to check — I think it’s about 18 and up.”

After the interview, Bluesky contacted the BBC to clarify that the minimum age is 13, not 18. They added that there are additional settings in the app to ensure the content is safe for children.

In one extensive interview with host Rick EdwardsShe said Bluesky doesn’t try to verify user identification, to make sure people aren’t lying when they sign up.

She said: “We don’t take ID cards or anything like that. I know it’s suggested in some places. It’s very private information.

“I think companies like us would want to make sure that we handle the private user data very responsibly.”

Graber also said that moderation on the platform came from a mix of human moderators and automated technology, and that they have no plans to introduce “traditional advertising”.

One option being looked at, she said, was monetizing subscriptions for users who want extra features on their accounts.

Bluesky was developed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and visually looks how X used to look back in his Twitter days.

Mr Dorsey is no longer part of the team behind it, having stepped down from the board last May, and the platform has seen an increase in filings since the results of the US election.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, was a big supporter of Donald Trump during his campaign.

He will also be heavily involved in the president’s administration after being named co-head of the new administration Department of Government Efficiency.

Political divisiveness has led some to leave X in protest since the election, and Bluesky appears to have benefited.

In September, the company said it had nine million users. This week it passed 20 million.

But it’s still far behind X, as is Threads, a rival platform created by Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said he has done so this week “no plans” to join the social media platform.

The prime minister told reporters that there were “at present” no moves to set up official UK government accounts or a personal account in his name.

He said it is “important for a government” to be able to communicate with “as many people as possible”.

X does not share its total user numbers but it is understood to be in the hundreds of millions. Musk himself has 205 million followers on his account.