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Elon Musk to remove blocking feature on X
Elon Musk took to social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, on Friday to say that the block function will be greatly limited on the platform soon. This feature has protected users in the past to limit harassment on the website and remove abusive posts from their timeline.
This is the latest in a series of changes Musk has made since taking over the site in a $44 billion deal in 2022.
Read More: Elon Musk reveals Twitter to be renamed ‘X’ soon
It makes no sense
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 18, 2023
Musk said in several tweets that the block function, which allows users to restrict specific accounts from contacting them, seeing their Tweets, and following them, makes “no sense”. He further stated that users will still be able to block other accounts in the direct message (DM). An account that is blocked can no longer send messages to the blocker.
Muting an account, meanwhile, prevents a user from seeing the account’s posts. Muted accounts do not know someone has muted them. This function does not protect users from cases of harassment or stalking.
Former Twitter founder Jack Dorsey agreed with Musk’s take, replying to his tweet with “100. mute only.”
💯. mute only.
— jack (@jack) August 18, 2023
This change is likely to spike online harassment, including toward ethnic and religious minorities.
Are you on board with this change? Let us know by voting in the poll below.
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