Elon Musk eliminates blocking feature on X, except for direct messages (DMs)
Elon Musk, the CEO of X, announced on Twitter that the block feature will be removed from the social media platform, except for direct messages. Musk stated that it doesn’t make sense to have this feature. The decision came after a Tesla fan account questioned the purpose of blocking instead of muting.
Some users suggested that the blocking feature could be modeled after the old authentication system, which is seen as a security measure. However, concerned users pushed back against this idea. Twitter stated on its help page that blocking allows users to restrict specific accounts from contacting them, viewing their tweets, and following them. Even if someone has blocked you, you can still block other accounts.
While the mute feature may still remain, it is important to note that blocking and muting are not the same. Blocking prevents other users from interacting with, viewing, and tracking your account, while muting simply hides your posts from their feed without notifying them. Musk clarified that blocking will still be available for direct messages.
Blocking has become increasingly important for many users due to the rise in spam responses on their timelines. Some users were banned from X Blue/Twitter Premium accounts when the blocking feature started favoring paying users’ replies over non-paying users. Public figures have also utilized blocking to remove harassment from their feeds.
It is unclear when or if the blocking feature will be removed. Musk has reversed course before, such as when he initially announced plans to remove the light mode option but later decided to keep it due to popular demand. The default mode will now be dark, and the dim mode will be deleted.
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