Elon Musk Says X Users Will No Longer Have Blocking Privileges
Photo 284993308 © Rokas Tenys | Dreamstime.com
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, the ability to “block” individuals is an essential tool for users to safeguard their online experience. This feature empowers users to take control of their digital environment, fostering a sense of security and well-being in the virtual realm. Whether on Twitter (now X) or other social media platforms, blocking provides a valuable means to curate online interactions, protect against harassment, and maintain a positive online presence.
That ability to safeguard yourself online is about to disappear from X as Elon Musk now says the feature is about to be deleted as it “makes no sense.”
It makes no sense
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 18, 2023
The only area where being able to block accounts will still be available is in the DMs. Thankfully, the “mute” option will still be up and running.
Being in charge of one’s preferences on the internet has become increasingly crucial as hate, bullying, and misinformation continue to fuel rampage online. It gave people a sense of control and prevented them from viewing things that could be detrimental to their mental health.
CNBC points out that people also used it to block advertising from brands they did not like or they were boycotting.
Ever since Musk bought Twitter last year, it has undergone many transformations. One such avenue is with its advertising API. Since reforming it, many big-name brands have decided to pull their marketing from the platform. Recently, however, X introduced a new system that allowed brands to choose what type of accounts they could be featured on.
Overall, despite Musk touting that his purchase of the site was due to the fact that he did not agree with the way it handled free speech, moves such as this can’t help but be seen as doing the exact opposite of what he claims to want the platform to be.
[via Engadget and CNBC, cover photo Rokas Tenys | Dreamstime.com]
