Elon Musk-owned X is all set to change the blocking rules of the platform, sparking fear and anger among its user base.
Currently, when a user blocks someone, the blocked individual is completely prevented from accessing the blocking user’s tweets, ensuring their privacy and wellbeing.
However, the upcoming updated system will no longer prevent blocked users from viewing public tweets.
Soon we’ll be launching a change to how the block function works.
If your posts are set to public, accounts you have blocked will be able to view them, but they will not be able to engage (like, reply, repost, etc.).
— Engineering (@XEng) October 16, 2024
X has clarified that blocked users will still be unable to interact with public content from users who have blocked them, and will face restrictions on quoting, liking, reposting, replying, etc.
The social media platform has claimed that this update is to allow for ‘greater transparency’ by allowing blocked users know if the ones who blocked them are trying to ‘share and hide harmful or private information’.
This unexpected new feature was first highlighted by independent analyst Nima Owji:
BREAKING: X is about to remove the current block button, meaning that if an account is public, their posts will be visible to the blocked users as well!
— Nima Owji (@nima_owji) September 23, 2024
Elon Musk replied to her discovery by stating “High time this happened.”
X faces user backlash:
This controversial revelation has sparked a heated debate on X, with most reactions being overwhelmingly negative.
Users have argued that it undermines user privacy to a fatal degree and subverts the block feature’s protective purpose against harassment, making it easier for malicious individuals to target victims, particularly victims of domestic violence. Critics also maintain that it will compromise safety on the site.
Reactions to the new Blocking Policy:
The new block feature: pic.twitter.com/FsvHTe5ZtX
— rocky hiranandani (@IndieKnopfler) October 17, 2024
big day for stalkers and harassers
— evil (@evildeadthing) October 16, 2024
Twitter’s new block feature pic.twitter.com/bxiD2nhqrb
— Rookhi Sookhi (@Sannaaaata) October 17, 2024
us bc the block button feature’s changing soon which means it’s only a matter of time before twitter is removed from app stores pic.twitter.com/YLfZZQa890
— nick ४ (@justlikeloki) October 16, 2024
What is the actual reason for this change? The block feature is basically uniform across all of social media. Why change it? How does this make anything better on Twitter? Genuinely cannot figure out the logic behind this pic.twitter.com/JcOf1j1URd
— The Act Man (@TheActMan_YT) October 16, 2024
Blocked accounts waiting for the new “block” feature to start on here… pic.twitter.com/9dBpfoMQW2
— 𝙽𝙾𝙸𝚁 𝙱𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙲𝙺 (@noirbeachshack) October 17, 2024
Has there ever been in all of human history a more pathetic bitch ass move as
Elon Musk removing the BLOCK feature from TWITTER? pic.twitter.com/P29wrLDKjS
— Fernando Gonzales (@Fernandonyny) October 17, 2024
“Hey Elon, did you make this block feature request because one of our engineers told you that you’re the most blocked person on your own app?”
Elon: pic.twitter.com/foa37DiWBR
— Ø₳₭ ➳ (@Oak_Arrow) October 17, 2024
