Elon Musk Alters X’s Blocking Function, Essentially Transforming It into a “Fancy Mute Button”
# X’s Controversial Update: Users Who Have Been Blocked Can Now Access Posts by Those Who Blocked Them
In a contentious development that has ignited considerable discussion, **X**, which was previously known as Twitter, has implemented a major tweak to its blocking system. Users who find themselves blocked are now able to view posts from those who have chosen to block them, given that those posts are made public. This alteration has sparked issues surrounding user safety, privacy, and potential misuse, particularly for at-risk groups.
## The Modified Block Policy
The engineering team at X has recently shared news of this revision, announcing, “We are beginning to roll out the block function update.” Under this update, users who have been blocked will now have the ability to see posts from those who blocked them, though interaction with such posts is prohibited. Therefore, while blocked users can observe the content, they are unable to like, reply, repost, or in any way engage with it.
The platform defended this modification by stating that the former block feature could be misused to obscure detrimental or private details about the blocked users. In a statement, X clarified that this update would “enable blocked individuals to ascertain if such behavior is taking place… contributing to enhanced transparency.”
This adjustment resonates with **Elon Musk**’s previous view. In 2022, Musk maintained that “blocking public posts is illogical” and proposed replacing the block feature with a more robust mute option. The mute function, unlike blocking, enables users to prevent content from certain accounts from appearing on their feeds without restricting those accounts from accessing their posts.
## User Discontent and Safety Risks
The update has faced substantial backlash from numerous users, with a considerable fraction of the X community expressing frustration and apprehension. While some individuals previously employed the block feature to eliminate unwanted or irrelevant content, others utilized it as a vital safeguard. For those enduring harassment, stalking, or abuse, the capability to block someone from seeing their posts served as a key measure for preserving their privacy and safety.
Detractors argue that the revised policy could grant stalkers, harassers, and various malicious individuals the capacity to keep tabs on their targets, even after being blocked. Several users highlighted that blocked accounts could view, screenshot, and disseminate content shared by those who blocked them, potentially escalating harassment or the improper use of personal information. One user referred to the block button under the new directives as “a sophisticated mute button,” pointing out the reduced protective capability of this feature.
### Risks of Misuse
The apprehensions are especially acute for individuals who have faced stalking or harassment. **Claire Waxman**, the Victims’ Commissioner in the London mayor’s office, expressed her concerns regarding the update, asserting that it “is a perilous choice for a social media platform, with severe consequences for victims—especially those facing stalking—and their safety.” Waxman stressed that permitting blocked users to see posts could accommodate abusers and stalkers, promoting their harmful actions.
In addition, **Tracy Chou**, founder and CEO of **Block Party**, which creates resources for addressing online harassment, critiqued the update. She noted that while block evasion had always been feasible through alternative accounts, the former block feature created obstacles, making it harder for malicious individuals to continue their harassment. “Facilitating a creep’s ability to stalk is not a positive move!!” Chou remarked, highlighting the necessity of preserving barriers against harassment.
## Updates to X’s Support Documentation
Prior to this change, X’s support page regarding account blocking explicitly indicated that blocked users could not view posts, search for content, or access Moments created by the person who blocked them. These limitations have since been omitted from the support documentation on the platform. Nonetheless, blocked users are still unable to interact with posts, follow the blocker, send direct messages, add the blocker to lists, or tag them in images. Additionally, posts from blocked accounts will not feature in the timeline of the individual who enacted the block.
### An Evolution in Platform Interaction
This modification signifies a broader transformation in how X manages user interplay and privacy. In the past, it was relatively straightforward to observe tweets without logging in, but in 2023, X (formerly Twitter) started prohibiting unregistered users from accessing tweets and user profiles. This shift was purportedly aimed at curtailing data scraping, yet it also meant that blocked users were required to create alternate accounts to view posts from those who blocked them. The new policy effectively eliminates that hurdle, enabling blocked users to access posts without logging out or setting up a new account.
## Questions Regarding App Store Compliance
The update has also prompted inquiries into whether the new policy adheres to the regulations of prominent app stores such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Both platforms have rules that mandate apps with user-generated content or social networking elements to furnish users with the option to block abusive individuals.
Apple’s stipulations indicate that apps must provide “the ability to block abusive users from the service,” while Google’s criteria require apps to enable “in-app
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