Twitter Is Reportedly Removing Its Block Feature

by

Twitter Is Reportedly Removing Its Block Feature

Key Takeaways

  • Twitter is reportedly about to rework its block button.
  • The new system would still prevent users from interacting with public accounts that blocked them, but while allowing them to continue seeing their content.
  • Twitter owner Elon Musk said it is “high time this happened.” Social media reactions to this change are polarized.

As someone who has spent countless hours on Twitter, witnessing its transformation under Elon Musk, I must admit, I find this latest development both fascinating and somewhat concerning. The proposed change to the block button is intriguing, and while it might streamline interactions for some users, I can’t help but worry about potential privacy issues.

It seems that the platform once called Twitter is contemplating revamping its current block mechanism. Reports suggest that the existing block functionality on Twitter may soon be swapped for a much more restricted alternative.

Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for approximately $44 billion in October 2022, the social media platform has undergone numerous significant transformations. For instance, it restored accounts that were previously permanently banned and adjusted its policies regarding cross-promotion. Additionally, efforts have been made to monetize its massive user base more effectively, with the introduction of the Twitter Blue subscription service being one example among others.

Elon Musk Says It’s ‘High Time’ to Rework Twitter’s Block Function

It seems that Elon Musk’s ongoing changes at Twitter are now focusing on the block feature of the platform. On September 23, app researcher Nima Owji reported that Twitter may soon eliminate the current block button and replace it with a more restrictive function. The proposed system would still enable users to block others, but those who have been blocked would still be able to view content from the people they were blocked by. Musk’s response to this report suggests that he agrees with this change, implying that an update to the Twitter block button is likely to happen soon.

Some Twitter Users Are Unhappy With the Block Feature Rework

The opinions about this modification on social media seem quite divided. While some Twitter users see it as a means to simplify their app experience without altering the core function of the previous block button, which is to let individuals decide who can engage with them, others believe that the capacity to hide posts from specific users is an essential aspect of any blocking feature. As expressed by Twitter user Philosophi_Cat in response to Musk’s recent suggestion about the upcoming change, “I don’t want the people I’ve blocked to see my posts in any way.

After the changes are made, the most effective method for Twitter users to regulate who views their tweets would be by setting their profiles to private and selecting the accounts they want to share updates with. However, this may not be a convenient solution for widely recognized or heavily followed users due to the potential loss of many followers.

A more moderate transformation than what Musk predicted in August 2023 has actually taken place on Twitter so far. Back then, he suggested that the old block feature would be eliminated except for Direct Messages (DMs). However, some social media users who are critical of this update believe that the real motivation behind it is to enhance content visibility and user engagement, which in turn would boost ad revenue for Twitter.

Read More

2024-09-24 00:23