X will soon be changing the way its block feature works, making it impossible for users to stop people they have blocked from viewing their posts. This was confirmed by CEO, Elon Musk, stating:
“High time this happened. The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public posts.”
Whilst no one is entirely sure as to why the move has been made, many are speculating that this is a way for the company to ensure that everyone sees advertisements, instead of blocking them. But what does this mean exactly for the safety of users who have used the block button for its intended purpose? And is it simply a personal move from someone who has a history of disliking the feature as a whole? After its ban in Brazil for not deleting accounts that “spread disinformation,” is this once again a return to Musk’s age old “freedom of speech” rhetoric? We can only watch on-
Anyone who uses social media will be familiar with the block feature. It’s a way for you to either prevent harassment, block posts or people that you don’t particularly want to see on your feed, or for many in fact, used as a tool to curate their feed (whether its banning ads or simply blocking the usual drama makers on the site.) In fact, many domestic violence centres and charities recommend those who are victims of abuse to block their stalkers and abusers online.
Because of this, getting rid of the feature has been touted as a safety concern on the website, with one user calling the decision a “huge mistake”, continuing to say that there are “toxic people” on the platform whom users simply do not wish to interact with in any way. Removing this feature could also have greater repercussions, potentially violating the terms and conditions of stores like Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Google Play developers must provide “an in-app system for blocking” while Apple requires developers to provide “the ability to block abusive users from the service.” This means that X could no longer be downloadable from these stores.
Musk has always been clear that he wants X to be a “digital town square” where all voices are heard, but he runs the risk of coming up against both store terms and conditions and of course, social media regulations and safety, where the block feature is an integral part of protecting users from harm. In a world where many social media platforms, such as Instagram, have faced pressure over safety on their sites, and have been introducing new features to combat that (with their teen accounts), it seems X are going in the opposite direction.
Since Musk’s acquisition nearly two years ago, multiple organisations have reported that the takeover has coincided with a rise in hate speech. The Centre for Countering Digital Hate and the Anti-Defamation League both found that racist slurs had increased nearly three times since October 2022, while the Institute of Strategic Dialogue reported that antisemitic posts had doubled. Separate studies have also reported a rise in misinformation, Islamophobia, misogynistic hate and anti-LGBT feeling on the platform, with media monitoring group GLAAD claiming in 2023 that X is “the most dangerous platform for LGBTQ people”.
This is why block buttons are important.
It’s a non-confrontational way to protect yourself from things you do not want to see and people who may be harassing you, particularly for reasons stated above.
So, how do you get around it?
Of course, the best way to do so is to leave X entirely. Over the years an array of alternatives have popped up, from Mastodon, Blue Sky, to Meta’s alternative, Threads. These sites still maintain their blocking features, and if you already have an Instagram account, Threads is quite a friendly alternative. Another way to tackle this feature is to limit overall who can see your X account, by privatising your account you only open yourself up to those who follow you and who you allow to follow you. Finally, you can also refrain from engaging with toxic posts, which often get recommended and amplified due to engagement – promise to make a community that is as welcoming as possible.
