In a surprising move, tech mogul Elon Musk, who now refers to Twitter as X, has announced that the platform’s block feature will no longer be available in its next update.
Twitter block feature ‘makes no sense’, according to Elon Musk
Musk stated that the feature “makes no sense” and will be removed, with the exception of direct messages (DMs).
Blocking has been a longstanding feature on social media platforms, including Twitter.
It allows users to prevent specific accounts from contacting them, viewing their tweets, and following them. The primary purpose of blocking is to provide a tool for users to protect themselves from harassment, threats, or unwanted interactions from other users.
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Musk’s decision to discontinue the block feature on X/Twitter has raised eyebrows.
He stated on X,
“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs. Makes no sense.”
While Musk didn’t elaborate on his reasoning, it appears that he views the blocking feature as counterintuitive or redundant.
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Musk suggested that users could utilise the mute feature instead of blocking.
The mute feature removes an account’s posts from the user’s timeline, while still allowing the muted account to reply to the user’s public posts.
However, blocking goes further by preventing the blocked account from viewing the user’s public posts.
What are the safety implications of disabling block feature?
The decision to discontinue the block feature has raised concerns among users, particularly those who rely on it to shield themselves from online harassment and unwanted attention.
Blocking has been a tool for creating a safer online environment for users, and its removal could potentially expose individuals to harmful interactions.
Musk’s suggestion to use the mute feature as an alternative to blocking may not fully address the needs of users who require more comprehensive protection from unwanted interactions.
Some users may prefer the robustness of the block feature to maintain their online safety.
Another strategy that X/Twitter users can employ is setting their accounts to “private.”
This option gives users control over who can view and respond to their posts. When an account is set to private, new followers must request permission to follow, which the user can approve or deny.
Musk’s role as the owner of X/Twitter came after his $44 billion acquisition of the company in 2022. He has since made significant changes to the platform, including personnel restructuring and the decision to discontinue certain features like the block feature.
Although Musk hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Linda Yaccarino as the CEO of X/Twitter, he has retained oversight of the product and technology teams, while Yaccarino focuses on advertising and business operations.
