Twitter/X is removing the ability to Block people, according to Elon Musk

Twitter/X is removing the ability to Block people, according to Elon Musk.

Amongst the replies, Musk has been met with people asking him not to remove the block function, as one user says it prevents harassment.

Blocking a user on X prevents that user from engaging with you directly. While they can still tag you, they can’t see your content or have immediate access. It’s a vital feature for some, and one that can help prevent the rise in hate speech that has been discovered on the platform.

The block feature, an integral part of social media platforms, allowed users to restrict certain accounts from contacting them, viewing their tweets, or following them. Instead of this feature, Musk is encouraging users to embrace the mute button, a tool that removes an account’s posts from your timeline without unfollowing or blocking that account.

This functional shift has raised eyebrows due to a critical distinction: blocking an account prevented it from seeing your public posts, while muting only concealed posts without restricting account interaction. This change is significant because it could alter the dynamics of user interaction on the platform.

This decision comes after Musk’s acquisition of X in a colossal $44 billion deal. Swiftly, he overhauled the leadership, terminating top executives and cutting 80% of the company’s workforce. His move to eliminate the block feature might seem like a continuation of this shake-up, potentially signaling his intention to reshape the platform in his vision.

While Linda Yaccarino, the former NBCUniversal ad executive, has been appointed CEO of X, Musk has declared his intention to retain authority over X’s product and technology departments. Yaccarino’s role primarily encompasses advertising and business operations. This dual leadership approach implies Musk’s hands-on involvement in shaping the platform’s user experience and features.

In a new reply, X – formerly known as Twitter – owner Elon Musk says that the team will be removing the ability to block people. He claims that the block function makes “no sense”. Musk’s takeover has seen a huge overhaul to the X ecosystem, including introducing Twitter Blue, a paid service.