Headline Roundup • August 19th, 2023
Elon Musk Says Twitter to Remove Users’ Ability to Block Accounts
Summary from the AllSides News Team
In a Tweet on Friday, Twitter CEO said Elon Musk the social media platform will be doing away with the “block” feature.
The Details: Musk said users will still have the ability to mute accounts they don’t want to see timeline content from. He also said blocking will remain in place within the platform’s direct messaging feature. No timeline has been announced as to when the changes will be implemented.
For Context: After purchasing Twitter in 2022, Musk has faced criticism from many, initially for his facilitation of the “Twitter Files” reporting, where independent journalists were given access to company communications and records from before Musk took over. More recently, Musk has received widespread criticism for ending Twitter’s legacy verification program, and rebranding the company as “X.”
Key Quotes: “Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature,’ except for DMs,” Tweeted Musk, before following up by saying the “block” feature “makes no sense.” An account titled “Tesla Owners Silicon Valley” which often posts pro-Musk content, and started the original dialogue on blocking replied that the feature is “worth having,” because without it, “trolls and spammers come out.” Twitter founder Jack Dorsey agreed with Musk’s decision in the replies, saying, “100%. mute only.”
How The Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum highlighted perspectives critical of the decision to remove blocking.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Harun Ozalp | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Users of X, formerly known as Twitter, will no longer be able to block comments from unwanted followers, according to a post by X owner Elon Musk on Friday, eliminating what’s long been viewed as a key safety feature. Blocking will only be available for direct messages, he said.
“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs,” Musk wrote Friday. He was responding to a post from the account of Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, asking, “Is there ever a reason to block vs mute someone?” The group behind that account...
The Verge
Elon Musk says X’s — formerly Twitter’s — block feature is on the chopping block, repeating his long-standing gripe against the basic social networking feature. “Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs,” Musk said in an X reply on Friday. He followed up with another post: “It makes no sense.”
Musk has made his feelings about blocking known in the past months. In June, he said that Twitter should remove blocking in favor of “a stronger form of mute,” and he’s complained about large block lists and mass blocking campaigns against users who subscribe to Twitter...
AP
Elon Musk says he plans to do away with the “block” feature on the X social media platform.
The app formerly known as Twitter will instead offer users the option of muting someone they don’t care for, though the “block” feature will still be available for those who no longer wish to receive direct messages from an unwanted users, according to the tech mogul.
“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature,’ except for DMs,” Musk, who acquired the site last fall for $44 billion, posted on Friday.
In a follow-up...
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