In the two years since Elon Musk took control of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, significant changes have reshaped the landscape of the site. Now renamed X, the platform is on the verge of implementing a major change in one of its most crucial features: the block function. This impending update has sparked both praise and criticism, dividing users and raising concerns about online safety and harassment.
The block function, which has long allowed users to make their accounts invisible to selected individuals, is about to undergo a transformation. According to a thread shared by X's engineering department, blocked users will soon be able to see the posts of the accounts that blocked them but won’t be able to engage with the content in any form. In short, while blocked users will still have access to the posts, they won’t be able to comment, like, or share them.
Elon Musk, CEO of X, welcomed the change, stating, "High time this happened. The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post." Musk’s remarks, posted last month, highlighted his belief that this modification would enhance user transparency and promote more open discussions on the platform.
Criticism and Concerns Over the Change
Not everyone shares Musk’s enthusiasm for the new block function. Critics have voiced their concerns about the potential negative effects, particularly regarding online harassment and privacy. Some users have expressed fears that the new system would make it easier for blocked individuals to continue lurking on others’ profiles, a change many see as problematic.
James O'Brien, a well-known author and podcaster from London, is among the most vocal critics. He referenced the shift in a post, likening it to Berthold Woltze's famous painting "The Irritating Gentleman." According to O'Brien, the current block function serves two essential purposes: controlling who can view and interact with your posts and muting users who may exhibit toxic behavior.
"It allows you to deny excessively rude and obnoxious people the pleasure of enjoying your bon mots," O'Brien stated via direct message. He went on to argue that this function is even more critical for vulnerable or sensitive individuals who need protection from online abuse. "It's hard not to see this move as Elon Musk demanding that they be exposed to abuse and mistreatment. It’s a bully's charter," O’Brien added.
One notable figure who may be impacted by this update is Marc Andreessen, Musk’s fellow tech billionaire. Andreessen has publicly boasted about the number of people he’s blocked on the platform, particularly targeting journalists, including the reporter of this story. Andreessen did not respond to requests for comment, but his previously declared stance against unblocking critics adds to the speculation surrounding how this change will affect influential users.
Theories Behind the Change and X’s Justification
Speculation has arisen that Musk’s decision to modify the block function may be influenced by the number of users who have blocked his personal account. However, X’s engineering department provided a different explanation in their thread, claiming that the current block system has been exploited by some users to hide harmful or private information about those they’ve blocked. According to the team, the upcoming changes will promote "greater transparency" and limit misuse.
As an alternative to blocking, X suggested that users could make their accounts “protected,” a feature that restricts post visibility to existing followers and requires new followers to seek permission to view content. This option allows users to maintain tighter control over their content while still preventing unwanted engagement.
Despite these suggestions, many users remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures. The overriding sentiment among users is that loosening the block feature could lead to more online abuse, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Expert Reactions and Online Safety Concerns
Tracy Chou, founder of Block Party, a tool designed to safeguard users from social media harassment, criticized the upcoming change. On X, she argued that making it easier for harassers to find and view posts without consequence could be harmful. "Making it easy for a creeper to creep is not a good thing!!" she wrote in her post, underlining the potential risks to users’ safety and well-being.
Chou's perspective reflects a growing concern among safety advocates, who worry that the new block function could leave users more exposed to unwanted attention and abuse. Many users rely on the block function to create a safer online environment, and any alterations to this system could have far-reaching implications for user experience and privacy.
As the launch of this new feature draws nearer, it remains to be seen how users will adapt to the change and whether X will take additional steps to address the concerns raised.