X, formerly known as Twitter, said it has begun rolling out controversial changes to its blocking feature. When a user blocks another user, the blocked user can still access that user’s profile and view posts, but cannot interact with them in a direct way.
The changes have been met with strong negative reactions, with critics saying they will only make it easier for stalkers, abusive ex-partners and others to continue monitoring and preying on their targets. Blocked users may attack their targets by taking screenshots of their posts and encouraging their followers to follow them.
When X announced this change in October, they explained that some users block other users for sharing harmful information about themselves without the person immediately blocking them. He said that. “Currently, users can use blocks to share or hide harmful or personal information about the person they have blocked. This update provides more transparency by allowing users to see if such behavior occurs.”
× announced Despite announcing on Saturday that the changes were now being rolled out, many replies expressed displeasure, with a common response repeated by many users being: “Nobody asked for this.”
To be fair, even if someone is blocked on X, they can still access the target’s profile from another account. But that’s more friction, and on the surface, this change only seems to make life easier for harassers.
Other X changes that initially met with resistance have since been accepted. Most notable is the company’s decision to hide users who have liked posts. After X made the changes, many people noted that they felt more comfortable liking sensitive content without criticizing it. Celebrities have been embarrassed by their own similar histories for years, such as when it was revealed that Sen. Ted Cruz liked a short clip from the Reality Kings’ pornographic film Dick for Two. But ironically, X justified changing the blocking functionality as follows: show Increasing content transparency conflicts with the move to hide likes for the opposite reason.
Some have pointed out that changing the blocking feature in this way could violate Apple and Google’s guidelines for social media apps available in their respective stores. Apple’s guidelines specifically state that apps must have “features that block abusive users from the service.” However, Apple appears to have a somewhat friendly relationship with X under the ownership of Elon Musk. For example, it was quick to restart advertising on its platform.
At this time, we do not yet know how much of an impact this change will have on user experience. Of course, competing platforms like Bluesky and Threads have gained more users since Musk took office, but Musk’s changes to moderation have generally made the platform a more toxic place. I feel it. Musk has been posting increasingly right-wing and inflammatory content in the run-up to the presidential election. Recent reports from luck I discovered that his posts were appearing in users’ feeds Within 2 sessionswhether they try to find his account or not.
In response to X’s October blocking change announcement, Bluesky said its platform would maintain the original blocking functionality. This startup recently Over 13 million usersMeanwhile, Mehta said in a recent earnings call that Threads: Over 275 million.
At Bluesky, we take online safety seriously.
If you want to block someone, you can. Customize your experience.
Additionally, you can:
+ Subscribe to block lists maintained by trusted users
+ Separate quoted posts
Learn morehttps://t.co/x6v5YW0WFT— Blue Sky (@bluesky) October 16, 2024
