X’s owner stirs debate by axing block feature. Find out the impact and reactions to this surprising shift!. Major Change in X (Formerly Twitter): Block Feature for Unwanted Comments Discontinued.
In a significant update, Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), announced on Friday that users will no longer have the ability to block comments from unwanted followers. This move eliminates a feature that has long been considered vital for user safety. From now on, blocking will be restricted to direct messages (DMs), as Musk explained in response to a post from the Tesla Owners Silicon Valley account. This change has sparked discussions and concerns within the platform’s user community.
Elon Musk’s New Direction for X:
Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for a staggering $44 billion, he has been actively reshaping the company. He has made substantial changes, including employee layoffs, lifting bans on certain accounts, and rebranding the platform as X. While the reasons for discontinuing the block function were not provided, Musk stated that the mute function would remain available.
Impact on User Safety and Experience:
The block feature has been a vital tool for users to safeguard themselves from hate speech and harassment on the platform. By blocking unwanted followers, users could ensure that offensive content did not appear in their feeds. In contrast, the mute function only prevents the individual user from seeing unwanted responses, without removing them from other users’ feeds. The block feature has also been utilized for boycotts and to prevent ads from specific brands or promoters from appearing.
Diverse Opinions on the Decision:
Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance and an investor in the new X alongside Musk, expressed his viewpoint on the matter. He suggested that instead of discontinuing the block feature, the platform should prioritize addressing issues related to bots and spam. This sentiment reflects concerns from various quarters about potential negative consequences resulting from the removal of this safety feature.
As X evolves under Elon Musk’s leadership, this decision to discontinue the block feature marks a notable shift in the platform’s functionality and user experience. The effects of this decision and the ensuing discussions within the X community will likely continue to unfold.
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