Social media entity X, formerly known as Twitter, will eliminate a protective function that allows users to prevent other accounts from interacting with them. This decision marks yet another contentious step taken by Musk since his acquisition of the company last year.
The feature in question, known as the "block" function, permits users to restrict specific accounts from initiating contact, viewing their posts or becoming followers. Musk conveyed in a post on the platform that the "block" feature will be removed as a prominent option, except for direct messages, commonly referred to as DMs. He clarified that X will uphold the "mute" function, which permits users to filter out content from specified accounts. Unlike the "block" function, muting does not notify the other account of the action taken.
Elon Musk, the billionaire proprietor, has characterized himself as a staunch advocate of free speech, although some critics have deemed his approach irresponsible. Researchers have observed a rise in hate speech and anti-Semitic content on the platform following his takeover. Additionally, some governments have accused the company of inadequate content moderation efforts. The decision to either eliminate or curtail the "block" feature could potentially lead to conflicts with the guidelines outlined by Apple's App Store and Alphabet's Google Play.
Apple mandates that applications with user-generated content incorporate mechanisms to prevent abusive users. Similarly, the Google Play Store requires apps to feature an in-app system for blocking user-generated content and users. At present, X, Google and Apple have not provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
