Social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, will remove protection features that allowed users to block other users’ accounts. X owner, billionaire Elon Musk announced on Friday (18/8) the latest controversial move for the company he bought last year.
By using the block feature, X users can restrict certain accounts from contacting them, viewing their posts or following their accounts.
“Blocking will be removed as a ‘feature’ except for DMs (direct messages),” Musk said in a post on platform X.
He said X would maintain a mute function which would filter out certain accounts that would be visible to users. But unlike the block feature, the silent feature won’t send a warning to other accounts about the action.
By removing or limiting the block feature, X will likely conflict with the guidelines issued by Apple and Google Play. Apple says apps must provide an in-app purchase system to block user-generated content.
Apple says user-generated content must have the ability to block abusive users. Google Play says apps should provide an in-app purchase system to block user-generated and user-generated content.
X, Google and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In response to a text from anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky urging X to maintain “critical tools to keep people safe online,” X Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino defended Musk’s move.
“User safety at X is our first priority. And we’re building something that goes beyond the existing block and mute functions. Please continue to send feedback,” said Yaccarino. (ft/ah)
