 "X has announced that it is doing away with the block function. This comes after Elon Musk has criticised it, calling for its removal. File image/Reuters")
After his purchase of X, formerly known as Twitter, Elon Musk has constantly been making changes to the social networking platform. And the most recent tweak that he has said he will introduce is the removal of the block button.
What this means is that blocking someone on the social media platform won’t be an absolute. Speaking on the same, Elon Musk said, “High time this happened. Block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post.”
This doesn’t come as a big surprise, as the X owner has expressed his dislike of the block button in the past. Last year, he said the feature “makes no sense” and that “it needs to be deprecated in favour of a stronger form of mute.”
However, not everyone is happy with Musk and his decision to do away with the block function. Several took to X to express their concern over the move, saying it will make the platform even more toxic and open to harassment.
Unblocking the block
Elon Musk-owned X is bidding adieu to the block feature on the platform. This feature allowed users to prevent individuals from viewing or engaging with their public posts. However, now blocked accounts will be able to view the blocker’s posts once again, but will not be able to engage with the content via likes, replies, reposts, or direct messages.
This comes after Musk had last year threatened to get rid of the feature completely. His argument against the feature was that blocking wasn’t effective as the person could create an anonymous account to view posts.
Many others agree with the billionaire’s assessment of the block feature and welcomed the move to remove it. For instance, Nima Owji, a web developer, said that anyone could surpass the block by creating alternate accounts. Others also pointed out that blocked users could view posts by using the incognito mode on their browser.
Unhappy users
However, not everyone is pleased about Musk’s move. One X user, identified as Nzube Udezue, wrote, “With respect, I think this is a bad idea. There are many reasons somebody may not want certain individuals to easily see all their public posts. There are some really bad actors on social media, sadly.”
Another user replied: “I don’t want the creeps I’ve blocked seeing my posts at all.”
A third user also commenting on the same, wrote, “This is not good at all. Many people block abusive accounts for real-world security and safety reasons. You have just taken that away.”
Similar comments flooded the platform, with one X user telling Elon Musk to rethink his decision, writing, “Elon, there are young single women on this app who live alone and have been bullied, sexually harassed, or directly threatened with rape, violence, even murder. Some also have children to protect. For their safety, a full blocking feature like we’ve always had is most optimal.”
Losing a sense of security
Users argue that the removal of the block feature will lead to a loss of control. They argue that by removing the block feature, their sense of control will be eroded and the purpose of blocking people in order to create boundaries will be undermined.
Users also stated that by foregoing the block feature, safety would be a huge concern on the platform. They argue that the block function served as a security blanket for many who face online harassment, bullying, or threats. Removing it could expose vulnerable users such as women, activists and public figures to unwanted attention and stalking behaviour. Moreover, it becomes easier for some to harass or stalk victims.
In The Independent, Claire Cohen explained why the block feature was important to her. She wrote, “Removing the block facility sends a particularly sinister message to us – one of entitlement. It says: who do you think you are to block us? We deserve to see what you’re saying. Know your place.”
Activists also note that the removal of the block function will make X a fertile ground for hate speech. With users not being able to block hate speech, it would normalise it and create a hostile environment for people in groups that are often targeted, such as women, LGBTQ+ people, Indigenous people and migrants. A report in The Conversation noted that X is already considered a “hellsite” for toxicity and if the block function is removed, then it might become even more hellish.
Activists argue that by doing away with the block feature harassment would be easier on the platform, as trolls would be able to see what their targets have posted, screenshot it and then share it with their followers along with spewing venom.
X has already been accused of becoming unsafe for women — the number of women on the platform has been dipping constantly in the past few years. Moreover, it has become a breeding ground for hate speech. For instance, anti-Semitic tweets doubled from June 2022 to February 2023, according to research from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue (ISD).
Another research by USC, UCLA, UC Merced and Oregon State University, revealed that daily use of hate speech by those who previously posted hateful tweets nearly doubled after Musk finalised the sale of X. And the overall volume of hate speech also doubled sitewide.
And the removal of the block feature will only further this trend, argue activists.
Other controversial decisions
The decision to remove the block function isn’t the first such controversial change that X has seen after Elon Musk purchased the platform.
Shortly after purchasing the site in 2022, Elon Musk changed its name from Twitter to X . He also changed the logo of the site.
There was also the change to the blue check mark . Initially, this blue tick indicated that a person’s account was authentic. However, now people can purchase it for a price.
With inputs from agencies