Key Takeaways:
- Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), has decided to remove the account block feature, citing that it “makes no sense.”
- The block feature allowed users to prevent specific accounts from contacting them, viewing their posts, and following them.
- Musk suggests using the mute feature instead of block, but this hides posts without unfollowing or blocking accounts.
- It’s uncertain if previously blocked accounts will be unblocked due to this change; X representatives have not provided clarification.
In his latest update to X, the platform he now refers to instead of Twitter, Elon Musk has announced a significant change: users will no longer have the ability to block other accounts. Musk justified this decision by stating that the block feature “makes no sense.”
The term “block” on X, previously known as Twitter, referred to a tool that allowed users to prevent specific accounts from interacting with them. This could include stopping those accounts from contacting the user, viewing their posts (Tweets), and following them. This feature was particularly helpful in cases of harassment, threats, or stalking.
Musk, a prominent figure in the tech industry, shared his decision on X, stating, “Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature,’ except for DMs. Makes no sense.”
Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, weighed in on Musk’s announcement and expressed his agreement by replying with a simple “💯. mute only.”
Instead of using the block feature, Musk recommended that X users utilize the “mute” feature as an alternative. However, it’s important to note that currently, the mute button only hides posts from an account on the user’s timeline, without unfollowing or blocking the account. In contrast, blocking an account prevented that account from seeing the user’s public posts on X. When accounts are “muted,” they can still respond to the user’s public posts, but the user doesn’t receive notifications, and these replies are not immediately visible.
Musk has previously criticized the block function on Twitter, stating in June, “Blocking public posts makes no sense. It needs to be deprecated in favor of a stronger form of mute.” However, he didn’t provide further details about what he meant by a “stronger form of mute.”
It remains uncertain whether Musk’s decision to remove the block feature will lead to previously blocked accounts becoming unblocked for users. Representatives from X, formerly Twitter, have not responded to requests for clarification on this matter.
Alternatively, users of X can opt to set their accounts to “private.” This setting allows users to control who can see and respond to their posts. By default, when signing up for X, or Twitter, posts (Tweets) are public, meaning anyone can view and interact with them. If a user chooses to protect their posts, they will receive requests from new followers, giving them the choice to approve or deny access.
Elon Musk, known for his roles as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as his status as the world’s wealthiest individual, acquired ownership of Twitter, now known as X, in October 2022. After a substantial $44 billion deal, Musk took control of the company and subsequently made organizational changes, including laying off a significant portion of Twitter’s staff.
This year, Musk appointed Linda Yaccarino, a former executive at NBCUniversal, as the CEO of X. Despite this change in leadership, Musk remains responsible for overseeing X’s product and technology teams, while Yaccarino focuses on advertising and business operations.
