X, formerly Twitter, to remove 'block' feature except for DMs
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San Francisco: Elon Musk, the owner of social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced a significant change to the platform's functionality. The platform will be removing the 'block' feature, a tool that allows users to restrict specific accounts from contacting them, viewing their posts, or following them.
Musk disclosed this decision in a post on the platform, clarifying that the block feature will only be retained for direct messages (DMs).
The billionaire has been at the helm of X since he acquired the platform, and under his leadership, several safety policies that were previously in place have been reversed. This latest decision to eliminate the block function has raised concerns and stirred controversy within the online community.
While the block feature will be phased out, Musk assured users that the 'mute' function will still be available. The mute feature enables users to screen specific accounts, preventing their content from appearing on the user's feed. However, unlike blocking, muting does not notify the other account of the action taken.
Musk's stance on free speech has been widely discussed.
He has described himself as a proponent of free speech absolutism, a philosophy that prioritises unrestricted expression. Critics, however, have expressed concerns about the impact of this approach, citing an increase in hate speech and offensive content on the platform since his acquisition. Governments have also accused the platform of inadequate content moderation.
The move to remove or limit the block feature could potentially put X at odds with guidelines set by major app distribution platforms. Both Apple's App Store and Alphabet's Google Play have stipulated that apps with user-generated content must provide mechanisms to block abusive users.
Apple requires apps to have the ability to block users engaging in abusive behaviour, while the Google Play Store mandates that apps must incorporate an in-app system for blocking user-generated content and users. At present, X, Google, and Apple have not responded to queries seeking comments on this matter.
Anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky also engaged in the conversation, urging X to retain the block feature as a "critical tool to keep people safe online." In response, Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino defended Musk's decision, emphasising that user safety remains the platform's top priority. Yaccarino assured users that X is working on creating an improved system that surpasses the current capabilities of the block and mute functions.
Under Musk's leadership, X's operational structure has been redefined, with him overseeing the product and engineering teams, while Yaccarino heads all other departments, including legal and sales.