X begins roll out of controversial block feature update

The social media platform X is changing the way its block feature works, with a controversial move to be more transparent.

Before Elon Musk bought Twitter, the block feature was used to help control how users interact with each other. When someone blocked another person, they could no longer see their posts or interact with them.

Now, though, blocked accounts will be able to see the person who blocked them posts as normal—they just can’t interact.

While the original decision to change the block tool was announced in mid-October, the X Engineering team said on November 3: “We’re starting to launch the block function update.”

We’re starting to launch the block function update https://t.co/qNYIudCrqb

— Engineering (@XEng) November 3, 2024

In the new update, blocked accounts cannot engage with posts, follow the account, send direct messages to them, add their X account to their lists, or tag the user in a photo. But they can see their posts if the user’s account is set to public.

Today, block can be used by users to share and hide harmful or private information about those they’ve blocked. Users will be able to see if such behavior occurs with this update, allowing for greater transparency.

— Engineering (@XEng) October 16, 2024

The reasoning behind the change was shared, with the X engineers team posting: “Today, block can be used by users to share and hide harmful or private information about those they’ve blocked.

“Users will be able to see if such behavior occurs with this update, allowing for greater transparency.”

Since the announcement about the update, the feedback hasn’t been positive.

Over two thousand people replied to the change, with several likening the change to what is already seen in the mute feature. This is where a person can remove an account’s posts from their timeline without unfollowing or blocking that account.

Tracy Chou, the founder of anti-harassment tool Block Party, weighed in with her thoughts: “I’m sure someone from twitter (elon) is arguing that block evasions were always possible from other accounts but the point is that friction matters!! making it easy for a creeper to creep is not a good thing!!”

Others were confused over why a user would want the person they block to be able to see their posts.

The announcement saw many users leaving the app, with around half a million people ditching X for Bluesky.

In one day alone, Bluesky saw a surge of half a million new users following the changes.

Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram

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