Elon Musk claims “block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs”, without giving any details, in a reply to a user's X post about block vs. mute

Elon Musk says X's — formerly Twitter's — block feature is on the chopping block …

The Verge 2023-08-19 Adi Robertson

Context & Ripple Effects

The proposal fits a broader Musk-era reshaping of Twitter/X’s control and safety tools. Earlier reporting described a narrowing of Twitter’s safety work, while Musk also discussed making account-level visibility restrictions explainable and appealable through a proposed shadowban-status update.

The change is notable because blocking is a user-controlled boundary, unlike platform-imposed moderation. Subsequent coverage of an option to block unverified accounts from replying underscores the tension between expanding reply access and preserving tools to limit unwanted contact.

First-order effects

If implemented as described, users could no longer use blocking to prevent another account from viewing or interacting with their public posts; direct-message protections would remain the stated exception.
The immediate result would be a sharper distinction between mute, which changes what one user sees, and block, whose broader protective function would be removed outside DMs.

Second-order effects

People facing harassment or persistent unwanted replies would have to rely more heavily on muting, account privacy settings, reporting, or X’s enforcement decisions rather than a unilateral account-level control.
Creators, journalists, and organizations that use blocks to manage replies could face higher moderation workload; X would also face greater scrutiny over whether its remaining safety controls are adequate.

Third-order effects

If platforms replace user-controlled exclusion tools with visibility filters or centralized enforcement, safety becomes more dependent on the platform’s policy choices and responsiveness rather than individual user agency.
The episode points to a continuing trade-off in social networks between maximizing open interaction and giving users durable controls over who can engage with them; the eventual product design, not the announcement alone, determines the shift.

The trend: X’s product direction is testing whether a more open interaction model can coexist with credible, user-controlled protections against unwanted engagement.

Discussion

@vishvanands Vishvanand Subramanian on threads
Apple loves making rules for everyone and bending them for Elon. It's happened twice already..
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
The best thing about Elon posting some crazy idea about how to ruin Twitter is when Jack shows up to agree and throw the old leadership under the bus forgetting he's the old leadership.
@jasminericegirl @jasminericegirl on threads
COMMUNITY NOTES GET HIM
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on threads
Apparently the actual Twitter plan is to rename Block Mute, and let you see (but not interact with) posts from accounts that blocked you without logging out. There is something interesting and paradoxical in the way this impulsive ADD management style applies in the car and rock…
@jasminericegirl @jasminericegirl on threads
elon musk pisses me off so bad how does a person manage to make the worst possible decisions at every possible point? removing blocking?? does he ever stop for a second to just think how these decisions affect anyone who uses the platform outside of himself?? …
@d_knight10k @d_knight10k on threads
Elon is going to remove the “block” function on Twitter and people are going to flood here for the 2024 election, so let's build up are Biden army here so we're prepared. If you're under 1000 followers and you're voting blue up and down the ballot in 2024, REPOST this, hit the L…
@mattbinder Matt Binder on threads
possibly the worst move he'll have made so far and that's saying something
@yasharali @yasharali on threads
Jack Dorsey endorses Elon's plan to delete the block feature.
@profgalloway Scott Galloway on threads
When a payments & cars guy is running a social media company
@mollyjongfast Molly Jong-Fast on threads
Amazing stuff zero notes
@trevorcroker Trevor Croker on threads
There will be no blocking allowed There will be a vote for major policy changes There will be feature to see if you are shadowedbanned There will be a content moderation council On and on and on
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
It's funny how tech billionaires used to be liberal and woke then they got bored with the act and took their masks off.
@renee.diresta Renee DiResta on threads
What's YOUR number? A solid 9k of these are from the time Musk retweeted some work we did - favorably! - so ref-working whiner Pizzagate Jack Posobiec immediately, and baselessly, claimed that I, personally, was behind the censorship of the Hunter Biden Laptop. …
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
It's a great example of how much power Apple wields with the App Store that they mandate product design such as every social app must have a block user feature. Government regulations are onerous but none are as onerous and as able to shift your entire business like the PM who d…
@anildash Anil Dash on threads
Elon Musk: 1. Directly funds those who share child sexual abuse material on Twitter/X, refusing to suspend their accounts 2. Directly promoted the child sexual abuse accounts by allowing them to buy Twitter Blue/X Pro to amplify their evil content 3. …
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
65.3 million of Elon's followers have zero people that follow them. 62.3 million of them have never tweeted. Dude is the Pied Piper of Hamelin for bots.
@hjsjsjaj23 @hjsjsjaj23 on threads
Man it's insane how easy Elon is making it for Threads to succeed but the Threads team is just blowing it by moving astonishingly slow🤦
@hjsjsjaj23 @hjsjsjaj23 on threads
The engineering and design team definitely deserves credit, but not the executives who are devising the roadmap. They chose a launch strategy like the top vs the bottom here. And it will be why they go the way to clubhouse is they don't start shipping basics.
@chris Chris Messina on threads
Facebook owns #1, #2, and #3, and #8 in the Social Networking category in the App Store. It makes no sense 🙂 #DeadTwitter
@vamshiperumbudoor Vamshi Perumbudoor on threads
On Android in free apps category threads fallen to 7th position since 3 weeks but still Instagram and Facebook is leading as always
@cannotpleaseall Fiona Lichfield on threads
Got to reset my password so I can leave. Shame as I really like loads that I follow. But @threads is getting better by the day.
@saintgridiron Jeff Cole on threads
Probably best to stop giving Elon Musk oxygen and relevancy on Threads. The outrage cycle is how authoritarians like Trump and Musk thrive, controversy is great for engagement and ratings.
@amber.d.elkins Amber Elkins on threads
@zuck any word on when we might get keyword search ability? Your competition is upping his awfulness
@hjsjsjaj23 @hjsjsjaj23 on threads
And yet Threads is (again) not prepared to intake those users because they are refusing to accelerate the launch of a web app and search/trends.
@keithedwards Keith Edwards on threads
BlueSky and Threads is trending on Twitter because Elon is going to remove the ability to block
@ribo.zyme Francisco De La Vega on threads
Perfect! This will really push for the exodus to @threads
@0x8007000e @0x8007000e on threads
Astonishingly slow? It's only been a couple of weeks, and they already implemented a ton of top requests! I think it's one of the fastest paced feature trajectories for a service with a hundred million users that I've ever seen and the team deserves a ton of credit.
@anity.ex @anity.ex on threads
Compared to actual Twitter and it's other competitor Bluesky I think we're going at a steady speed, its just that the site is very new, but it's web version releases soon as far as I know
@josereyes Jose Reyes on threads
It's been a month!
@northyellowstone @northyellowstone on threads
Every time I see Xitter I pronounce it Shitter in my head. Incredible branding.
@glowlockets Monique L. Dorange on threads
They really do want to be called shitter, and it is becoming. I already use it daily.
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
Elon Musk finding out he's the most blocked user on Twitter and deciding to do something's about it
@bestofdyingtwitter @bestofdyingtwitter on threads
whatever happened to...
@alex.stamos Alex Stamos on threads
Removing blocking from a social media site doesn't only worsen the experience for almost everybody, but it totally changes the value of a fake account. If a zero-follower account can continuously reply to large accounts and get engagement, running thousands of those accounts bec…
@keithedwards Keith Edwards on threads
I for one am shocked Elon Musk doesn't understand consent
@johnnypalmadessa John Palmadessa on threads
Twitter is removing features like the block button — which was the last remaining barrier to combat hate and discrimination on the platform. Threads is adding features like direct-messaging and a desktop version of the site to promote community building. That's the difference.
@lindy_li Lindy Li on threads
Elon is going to remove the block feature I've blocked 29,224 people, many of whom are racist, sexist & hateful Twitter can be a cesspool for women, esp for minorities Taking away one of our last remaining protections on the 103rd anniversary of the 19th amendment (women's right …
@keithedwards Keith Edwards on threads
Threads new marketing strategy: you can block people and we don't have Elon.
@renee.diresta Renee DiResta on threads
Masterful growth strategy...for competitors
@saribethrose Sari Beth Rosenberg on threads
Another genius move from Space Karen. Through the years I've blocked so many antisemites and Nazis who've said horrific things to me in my comments section. Why would any person let alone advertiser want to be in this space?
@mollyjongfast Molly Jong-Fast on threads
Just trying to make the site more and more unpleasant
@keithedwards Keith Edwards on threads
Elon Musk is about to learn that Google Play and the App Store require social media apps to have a block feature.
@bestofdyingtwitter @bestofdyingtwitter on threads
jack what happened to you
@reporterzoe Zoe Schiffer on threads
Tough day for Marc Andreessen
@hunterwalk @hunterwalk on threads
Musk saying Block is going away is pure engagement rage bait. Let's wait until that ships.
@moskov Dustin Moskovitz on threads
Responding to a surprise announcement of Xitter CEO Linda Yaccarrino's new plan to remove the “block” feature, CTO Elon Musk countered “it makes no sense.”
@mehtology Ivan Mehta on threads
In today's Dumb and Dumber
@d.d._jackson D.D. Jackson on threads
To go along with this. The last time I looked at an Elon tweet look at who I was recommended to follow next:
@markbower Mark Bower on threads
Watch it become a paid feature approx 2 days after the change goes live.
@tommorton Tom Morton on threads
So basically the platform is optimized for trolls and harassers: the Cartmanization of Twitter
@roneneffect @roneneffect on threads
Gotta bolster engagement metrics somehow. If people can once again have a troll/hate-off under your post where they couldn't before because they were blocked, this re-enables that activity at scale, even if you mute them. Plus we now know from established research that negativi…
@xeynon Greg Lekich on threads
I thought for a second his second tweet was a glimmer of self-awareness but then I realized he meant “the block feature makes no sense” not “deleting it makes no sense”
@taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads
Elon Musk says he's going to eliminate the block function on Twitter
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on threads
I had to check this was true for myself. That will make the site actually unusable.
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
Even if you paid me to come up with ideas to ruin a social media app you spent $44 billion on, I couldn't come up with ideas this bad.
@dangillmor@mastodon.social Dan Gillmor on mastodon
Over at Twitter, Musk is deleting the “Block” option except for DMs. Given the increasing numbers of extremists there, this is guaranteed to piss off all kinds of people who routinely get trolled. Based on experience and observation, journalists are among them. …
@mimsical@mastodon.social Christopher Mims on mastodon
imagine being this clueless about what it's like to be stalked, harassed, or just, you know, exist as a marginalized person on the internet — https://variety.com/...
@harriettmb@mastodon.ie @harriettmb@mastodon.ie on mastodon
Just muting creeps, stalkers, abusers, ex-partners, their associates really does not protect the victims in any way whatsoever. This is just dangerous. Will it take the death or life altering injury before this madness is revoked? Right now, victims, women, gay and trans peopl…
@film_girl@mastodon.social Christina Warren on mastodon
There is something terribly ironic about Bluesky crashing due to the influx of users now that Elon has said he's going to remove Block from Twitter/X (which is too stupid to even comment on), when people literally had pitchforks up at Bluesky for not having blocks as a launch fea…
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@teslaownersSV Block is going to be deleted as a “feature”, except for DMs
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@teslaownersSV It makes no sense
@alx @alx on x
@elonmusk @teslaownersSV Blocking is a good way to prevent scammers/bots from replying to future posts in the time they're waiting to be actioned. I also think blocking should be encouraged in place of reporting when people are getting unwanted replies & in cases when there's no …
@aqueelmiq @aqueelmiq on x
i am seeing a lot of users concerned about removing blocks. We can make mutes stronger, like not allow people you mute to reply or quote you. We can also transfer you block list to mute list. Preventing an account from seeing your posts does not work in practice. Anyone with any …
@chancehmiller Chance Miller on x
Musk says that Twitter will no longer let you block other users. But...Apple's App Store guidelines might not let this actually happen. Apps with user-generated content must offer “the ability to block abusive users from the service.” [image]
@monicalewinsky @monicalewinsky on x
hey + ... please rethink removing the block feature. as an anti-bullying activist (and target of harassment) i can assure you it's a critical tool to keep people safe online. - that woman
@teslaownerssv @teslaownerssv on x
@elonmusk In my opinion it's worth having. Unfortunately trolls and spammers come out. Haters will always try to get some fame over trolling accounts and bashing their name through the mud and being able to control the experience matters. At least for reach user.
@williamlegate LeGate on x
Musk's decision to eliminate the block feature is in direct violation of App Store guidelines & will lead to X's removal from the App Store, if implemented I predict Elon isn't aware of this & will backtrack — saying he was “trolling” or “joking” — and his followers will buy it […
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@WatcherGuru You will still be able to mute accounts and block users for DMs
@jack @jack on x
@elonmusk @teslaownersSV 💯. mute only.
@andylevy @andylevy on x
yeah no it isn't [image]
@wallstreetsilv @wallstreetsilv on x
@elonmusk @teslaownersSV That is a huge mistake. There are toxic people on this platform that users simply don't want in their replies. Block is a critical peace of mind issue for many people because it generally gets the cyber stalkers to move on.
@abughazalehkat Kat Abu on x
Let's be clear: Getting rid of the block feature is an endorsement of harassment. Elon Musk not only wants users to BE harassed, but to have see it too. Cool stuff!
@lindayax @lindayax on x
Our users' safety on X is our number one priority. And we're building something better than the current state of block and mute. Please keep the feedback coming.
@pavelasamsonov @pavelasamsonov on x
Why the socials go down: - Mastodon: Admin tip jar is empty - Twitter: Twitter released a new feature that made the website worse - BlueSky: Twitter released a new feature that made the website worse
@panzer @panzer on x
Was just reminded of when Twitter changed the block policy back in wayback. https://techcrunch.com/...
@jay_m_thomas Jay M. Thomas on x
Translated: Too many users #block @elonmusk
@katienotopoulos @katienotopoulos on x
Genuinely curious what the reasoning here is. We can rightfully assume Elon is a dumbass who doesn't understand the platform or humans, but I also assume Jack has spent a long time thinking about this exact issue.
@khayhoe @khayhoe on x
As a female climate scientist, blocking is the only thing that makes my engagement here on Twitter/X possible. Daily, I receive comments that range from disparaging to downright vile. Since Oct, my tweets can attract thousands of trolls (real people) and bots (not real). 🧵
@aridrennen Ari Drennen on x
Elon seems committed to degrading the user experience for everyone but annoying trolls on this website, so here's a quick guide to making your mentions more bearable from somebody who gets a lot of vicious harassment here: (1/4) [image]
@atabarrok @atabarrok on x
“Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won't happen again.” https://twitter.com/...
@goldengateblond Shauna on x
christ this is gonna be like when the containment unit was shut off in Ghostbusters [image]
@steinkobbe @steinkobbe on x
It's underrated how stupid Jack is [image]
@ebboyd E.B. Boyd on x
I'm trying to game this out in his head. His ultimate goal is to make X into his late-90s idea of an “everything” site (all commerce, communications, etc...). So, does removing blocking help move that goal forward? Product manager-types: What do you think?
@cassidoo Cassidy on x
I wonder what it's like to live in a world where you think blocking doesn't make sense [image]
@aqueelmiq @aqueelmiq on x
“blocks are actually problematic in some cases. Some users block the people they want to harass and spam so they don't find out fast enough”
@katienotopoulos Katie Notopoulos on x
Elon Musk hates Ryan so much that he blocked all inbound email from a https://buzzfeed.com/ email address, which made it annoying to ever try to ask him for comment
@nash076 @nash076 on x
Everyone rushing to Bluesky today: [image]
@dexerto @dexerto on x
Removal of the block button may violate Apple and Google's app store policies requiring the ability for users to block content [Screenshot of app store rules: Apple: “The ability to block abusive users from the service” Google: “Provides an in-app system for blocking UGC and user…
@steinkobbe @steinkobbe on x
Getting rid of the block function is obviously stupid, but the community notes keep getting dumber every day. Of course Elon can do it. He owns the company and the guidelines on those places are vague, and even if it goes against their rules that doesn't mean he can't do it [imag…
@amydiehl Amy Diehl, Ph.D. on x
This site is becoming less usable by the day. Removing the ability to block will make it impossible to curtail harassment and abuse. Privileged rich white men with security details don't need this feature, but the rest of us do. https://www.cnbc.com/...
@kimdotcom @kimdotcom on x
Do not remove the block feature. My tools manage the insane amount of bots and state operated propaganda accounts on X via blocks and without that feature I simply won't use X anymore. In fact if you want to clean up your insane bot mess just use my block list.
@radiofreetom @radiofreetom on x
If Threads develops a desktop and a Tweetdeck-like functionality, that'll be the bat-signal for more to begin moving. But for now it's Post for news, Bluesky for some fun follows, and Twitter for generica. Spoutible is nice, too, but so far haven't mastered it.
@keiths Keith Stoeckeler on x
“On days like today, I'm reminded of @karaswisher's observation that most of the problems with the internet come down to the fact that it's largely run by straight, rich, white dudes who have never had to fear for their personal safety...”
@dieworkwear @dieworkwear on x
“what happened to this?”
@timsweeneyepic @timsweeneyepic on x
“@elonmusk @teslaownersSV ^ this community note lol”
@fed_speak @fed_speak on x
“If it ain't broke; break it.” - Elon Musk
@alexstamos Alex Stamos on x
If a zero-follower account can continuously reply to large accounts and get engagement, running thousands of those accounts becomes more valuable. This isn't just about harassment, but also spam. Twitter is becoming a fantastic platform for organized spam and trolling operations.
@alexstamos Alex Stamos on x
Removing blocking from a social media site doesn't only worsen the experience for almost everybody, but it totally changes the value of a fake account.
@davidmweissman @davidmweissman on x
I block antisemites, and a mentally ill obsessed stalker who's doxxed me, harasses me, and exploits my children. Yet Elon Musks thinks it's ok to let these people back in your house. [image]
@dylanmcd8 @dylanmcd8 on x
Apple's rules could be interpreted as a company-side way to suspends users from the service, but Google's are very plain. And good, this shouldn't really have to be spelled out, but I'm glad it is. No Block is an insane idea.
@brendaneich @brendaneich on x
Muting lets the muted pollute your t/l by dragging in third parties. Sometimes blocking is best. I myself mute only unless it's phisherbots with some crypto phishing scam, then I “Hide Reply / Block”. So my blocklist is smaller than mutelist, but it's growing. X could fix this...
@karaswisher Kara Swisher on x
Said a man who has never had someone spew a racial, homophobic or misogynistic slur at them (and, bonus, who carelessly invented the chaos).
@delafina777 @delafina777 on x
“Just a reminder that someone being slightly less awful than Elon still leaves lots of room to be awful”
@jbarro Josh Barro on x
As Andy notes, the Apple App Store TOS requires that apps have a block function, so, Twitter will have a block function
@stillgray Ian Miles Cheong on x
I don't think X will be able to remove the block function even if they wanted to because it would prompt the immediate removal from Apple's App Store. This is in the terms of service. [image]
@mehdirhasan Mehdi Hasan on x
Bring back the Nazis. Let them get verified. Put ads next to them. And get rid of the Block feature. What could possibly go wrong?
@thedouggernaut Telly Savalas Truths™ on x
Twitter HQ when musk is about to implement a new feature [image]
@davidkurten David Kurten on x
This is not a good idea. I believe in free speech, but I block abusive and racist people. I get up to 10 posts a day calling me a c***, a f*****, an uncle Tom or a n*****, and I want to continue to block them. They can say what they like, but I don't want to see it.
@jamessurowiecki James Surowiecki on x
You just know Musk never bothered to research this.
@sargon_of_akkad Carl Benjamin on x
I don't think this is a great idea, and will harm the useability of Twitter for most people. Being blocked isn't fun, but it should be a core feature that people have access to in order to properly curate their own social media experience. They should have that control.
@dieworkwear Derek Guy on x
the worst thing about twitter is the harrassment, trolling, and spamming, and the only protection from those accts is the block feature. twitter should come up with more ways to allow ppl to protect themselves from harrassment, not take away features [image]
@dieworkwear Derek Guy on x
ppl who don't understand why block is better than mute have never been on forums. on a forum, “blocking” doesn't block; it mutes. as a result, someone can trail you from thread to thread, harassing you, or shit up threads, derailing discussions. only stops when a mod steps in
@brimalandro Bri on x
The way he just be announcing stuff and pump faking, same way we still have circles and that rate limit disappeared
@junlper @junlper on x
bluesky is struggling under the pressure of literally every user going on there after the news of elon working on getting rid of the block feature lol [image]
@lessin @lessin on x
I actually agree with this.... DM block sure, hide from feed, sure — but ‘block’ as implemented on twitter is pretty dumb. What is actually frustrating about Elon, is that he isn't always wrong ;)
@joshtpm Josh Marshall on x
lol The Troll Liberation Act of 2023 has been imposed by royal fiat.
@gwensnyderphl @gwensnyderphl on x
He's going to get people killed with this. You know what Nazis used to do in my Twitter replies? Use their accounts to give my home address out to OTHER Nazis in my replies who had expressed an interest in murdering my family and me.
@kyleclark Kyle Clark on x
Block is a useful tool to keep anonymous trolls from posting my home address and information about my family in the replies to my posts where they can make that stuff more visible. Let's keep the feature, shall we?
@jrs_rankings @jrs_rankings on x
Pretty clear a “block” is a requirement to be on the App Store. [image]
@oliverjia1014 Oliver Jia on x
Oh boy, I can see zero consequences with this happening. Can't wait to see how Elon's fanboys will delude themselves into thinking that this is a swell idea.
@jessekellydc Jesse Kelly on x
It's the best feature on this website and there's not a close second. Why would I allow anyone and everyone to have access to me? Access to me is a privilege. Access to you is a privilege. If that privilege cannot be revoked, this place will suck.
@possumfan777 @possumfan777 on x
remember this [image]
@davidafrench David French on x
Dreadful idea. Liberal blocking is the only thing that keeps Elon's Twitter bearable. His blue check trolls are so elevated in the algorithm that it's the only way to truly get rid of them.
@kelemencari Cari Kelemen on x
Muting means you can't see the muted account. Blocking means the blocked account can't see you. There are valid reasons for wanting to block an account. Example: publishing someone's physical whereabouts, which Elon has personally experienced. He should understand this.
@mattwalshblog Matt Walsh on x
Not a good idea. I don't block often but when I do it's because of accounts that do nothing but spam, harass, dox etc. I'm probably one of the most blocked people on this site (even though I never spam or harass anyone), and even I'm saying that the blocking feature is needed.
@philosophi_cat @philosophi_cat on x
I block people liberally for several reasons: 1) for my own mental health- I don't want to be exposed to the constant porn, violence, harassment, and nastiness that proliferates on this site 2) for my own safety and privacy- there are a lot of crazy people out there who want...
@cbucksrules @cbucksrules on x
I'm constantly followed by porn accounts. At least remove the porn on Twitter. People use porn as an attack by following you and then retweet porn which shows up on the main feed. If I cannot actively block these accounts, I cannot stay. I'm fed up being exposed to this shit...
@oneunderscore__ Ben Collins on x
Active contempt for regular people who use the internet.
@zsk Zoe Kleinman on x
I'm not entirely sure how this fits in with both existing and upcoming rules aimed at protecting internet users from online harms
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
Just brainless and stupid decision making. Linda has Carla Fiorina-ed herself faster than Carly Fiorina.
@abughazalehkat Kat Abu on x
i only block people who send me rape threats or actively spam my replies, this is a very cool feature thank you elon
@ditzkoff Dave Itzkoff on x
X will also look to generate revenue from a new feature called “Super Harassers”
@jesawyer Josh Sawyer on x
Every day this man does the impossible: rehabilitating Lowtax's legacy as the world's worst and dumbest site admin.
@radiofreetom Tom Nichols on x
If he really is this stupid, then that's the end
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
“Block users from the service” means like server admin controls, as in banning a whole account, I think. Not a user-level block feature.
@auschwitzmuseum @auschwitzmuseum on x
Failing to address the antisemitic and Holocaust denial comments that appear under our posts commemorating the victims of Auschwitz would be a disservice to their memory. We've chosen to block users who promote denial and hatred. This decision stems from our deep dedication to...…
@shoe0nhead Shoe on x
trolls, harassers, stalkers, parasocial freaks, spam bots & onlyfans hoes aside why would do this on a website that allows minors with literal pedophile communities on it this is nonsense and will make the website unusable locking your door =\= violating someones free speech
@byyourlogic @byyourlogic on x
I think more than anything this is about how people block the low rent advertisers that now make up majority of Twitter ad buyers. 7 out of every 10 ads I see is for a completely fraudulent product and I'm sure those companies are getting mass blocked
@kattenbarge Kat Tenbarge on x
Blocking can alleviate temporary annoyance, but for many users, blocking is the only safety net that allows them to exist on this platform. Musk's strategy thus far has effectively resulted in pushing vulnerable people and voices off the platform. It's a feature, not a bug.
@evacide Eva on x
I have received a vision of the future: within a week of getting rid of the block button, Elon will announce that the block feature will only be available to Twitter Blue subscribers.
@daveleebbg Dave Lee on x
So far, every Musk comment/policy has been directly related to his own personal experience on Twitter and little else.
@hassankhan @hassankhan on x
Removing the block option would violate TOS for both the App Store and Play Store
@stephenkb Stephen Bush on x
At last, I will discover what happened to the idiot cousin or whatever it was.
@lexnfx Alexei Oreskovic on x
X, now with harassment force feedings
@teroterotero @teroterotero on x
It's amazing how chaotic this app remains despite the fact that there is a nominally normal new CEO.
@zoeschiffer Zoë Schiffer on x
Tough day for pmarca
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
How to ruin your social network in 10 easy steps. Blocks aren't just about harassment, it is also about about stopping spam. This is just insanity.
@mikedrucker Mike Drucker on x
“We've decided for home security purposes, you may no longer lock your doors. It makes no sense. If someone stalking you enters your house, just ignore them.”
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
jbol I can't even login to bluesky right now. Elon is so amazing.
@danprimack Dan Primack on x
“If you don't want to listen, why don't you just change the channel?” “Ummm.... I tried to. But it won't let me anymore.”
@tomcoates Tom Coates on x
Things that make it harder for people to harass you and abuse you are *GOOD*. Things that put at least some control in the hands of the people who use the service are *GOOD*. Things that *self evidently great swathes of twitter users actually use* are DE FACTO USEFUL AND GOOD
@tomcoates Tom Coates on x
Elon here arguing that blocks don't make sense as a feature. Do they completely stop harassers following the things you say and responding to them? No. Does it make it harder for them to harass you. Yes. WHICH IS THE DAMN FUCKING POINT.
@pt Parker on x
Linda really needs to fire her head of product. This is just getting out of control. [image]
@tomcoates Tom Coates on x
Sometimes I think people like @jack and @elonmusk forget that they're not normal people. They get bombarded with abusive comments so much that block functionality simply has no effect for them. Meanwhile it helps 500m other users (Sorry, 300m, 200m, 100m, jesus)
@cubeapril April King on x
so, like... if this happens, I don't know if I'll be able to use twitter anymore. I have tens of thousands of users on my block list, not just to protect myself but to also protect those who follow me. without blocking, the amount of harassment is insanely high. [image]
@giagia Gia Milinovich on x
Pre-block button, I had a stalker on here who harassed me all over the web, even using Google searches that ended up in my blog's logs to send me abuse. For two years. Every day. Only after I could block them here did the harassment stop (it took a few months). Keep the block.
@normative Julian Sanchez on x
Basically his first big stupid change backfired in a totally predictable way, and now he's desperately hoping to salvage it with an even stupider change. [image]
@stealthygeek Patrick S. Tomlinson on x
Blocking is the only thing that has kept this hellsite even marginally tolerable for many years. Blocking is a fundamental safety feature to protect users from waves of abuse and harassment. Which of course is why he wants to remove it. [image]
@atrupar Aaron Rupar on x
it had been a few weeks since Elon has said or done something dumb to prompt people to flee the platform. So right on cue ... [image]
@mikedrucker Mike Drucker on x
ELON PLAN A: “If you pay $8, people are forced to see your racist replies first.” ELON PLAN B: “Since normal humans keep blocking people who pay $8, you may now hide your check when posting racist replies.” ELON PLAN C: “Nobody can be blocked unless they say where my plane is”
@samsantala Sam Santala on x
In shocking news to no one, most blocked man on Twitter thinks blocking is pointless [image]
@normative Julian Sanchez on x
Obviously there are tons of excellent reasons to block rather than mute—I never mute, always block. One of those reasons, of course, is to keep the top of your replies from being cluttered with worthless dipshits who paid for a blue check, which I suspect is what this is about.
@brosandprose Ella Dawson on x
Elon Musk saying that blocking “makes no sense” as a feature is such a galaxy brain removed from empathy delusional rich guy take that I can't formulate a coherent sentence. Blocking is a basic safety necessity. Without it a social network cannot function.
@junlper @junlper on x
can't overstate just how much this will ruin the experience of so many people on here. just the absolute dumbest moron to ever exist. just brain dead. completely cooked mind [image]
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
Musk blocked me for years for reporting on him and his companies. Then he bought the site and decided he could just ban me and other reporters with rules made up on the fly. Maybe that's why he doesn't need the block feature anymore? [image]
@brianmcc Brian McCullough on x
The whole “he's trying thing after thing to see if he can kill it so he can write it off in bankruptcy” theory is getting more and more plausible. There are other theories, but still...
@radleybalko Radley Balko on x
I'll just say it again — if some billionaire bought Twitter for the stated purpose of driving it into the ground and making it as unusable as possible, I don't know what they'd do differently than what Musk has done. https://twitter.com/...
@daveleebbg Dave Lee on x
I'm pretty sure Elon is the sole benefactor of the change to prioritising blue ticks in replies. The responses he sees are just a sea of people who love him enough to give the world's richest man $8 a month. For every other user, blue ticks are a menace.
@mattyglesias Matthew Yglesias on x
This might be the change that breaks my addiction to this dumb app
r/popculturechat r on reddit
Elon Musk Says X (aka Twitter) Will No Longer Let You Block Other Users

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