1y ago

Twitter/X removing the block feature

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397 comments

This is going to get buried, but I think it's important to note that block on twitter (unlike on most platforms) works both ways. You can still mute an account, and you won't see any of their content or mentions.
By removing block, it means you can no longer block a person from following you, but you can still prevent seeing their stuff. After all - all that person has to do see your public tweets is open an incognito browser window, and view your profile. If you have a private profile, none of this applies to begin with. So in that sense, I agree with Elon - block in its current form on twitter makes no sense.
Edit: Responding directly onto your posts - good point, I hadn't considered that. It's partially circumvented by changing the setting so can comment on your posts, but I agree that's more effort. For all the other things though - if you block someone now they can just take a screenshot of your tweet and comment on that.
- After all - all that person has to do see your public tweets is open an incognito browser window, and view your profile.
  Pretty sure you have to sign in, or will very soon.
  And people can likely still retweet, you just won't see it.
  So Ben Shapiro can still retweet everything AOC says to "slam" her, and only the people who haven't muted him (his fans) can circlejerk and post harassing replies. She just wouldn't see it.
- Block also blocks them from seeing your posts and responding to them. Which is valuable. I don’t want people to creep on my profile if I’ve blocked them.
  I use mute to get people who tweet in the wrong language off my timeline.
  I deleted my twitter so I guess it’s not my problem now
  
  Fair enough. I never used the algorithm timeline that inserts strangers into your stream so that was never an issue for me. Just the people I follow, chronologically, for me. Whether I block them or not, people who really want to would still be able to read my tweets. Blocking them just gives them more acknowledgement than they deserve.
  I haven't deleted mine yet, but I only seldom check it. Left this video as a pinned post though, it might inspire some people to quit as well.
  
  Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/watch?v=PRz54V7rU4U
  Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
  I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.
- Lmao this is overlooking the most important part of the block feature. Without the Block feature spammers, scammers, and crazies can destroy anyones posts by filling it with dick pics, scams, gore, anything. Blocks prevent people from posting on your posts.
  
  Without the Block feature spammers, scammers, and crazies can destroy anyones posts by filling it with dick pics, scams, gore, anything.
  Pretty sure they'd only destroy their own account with that - they'd be 1 report away from being banned. If none of your followers were to report it, it's probably time to cancel your account.
- They still can comment on your stuff and create hate bandwagons. This is actually pretty common.
- As long as mute still gets their posts out of my feed it's all fine by me I guess. I can't figure out what's the downside here. I couldn't care less if the people I've muted can see my profile or not. Preventing individual users from accessing your profile is kind of petty to be honest.

397 comments