It seems Elon Musk is going full speed ahead with his previously announced plans to get rid of "blocking," as we know it, as a feature on X. In a post today, the X Engineering team posted that this change would be happening soon and shed more details on how it will be implemented.
Basically, if you block someone and your posts are public, they can still see them. But, they won't be able to like, reply, or repost. According to the @XEng account, this change is meant to increase transparency, as now users will be able to see if others are trying to hide or share harmful or private information about them.
Musk has been vocal about his opinions on the block functionality as it is now on the platform, and the change had been announced as far back as May. However, now it appears that we are getting much closer to that timeline.
Block is going to be deleted as a “feature”, except for DMs
Blocking on X used to be simple. If you blocked an account, they couldn't see your posts or interact with them. This new change makes blocking less restrictive.
As expected, this upcoming change has been met with varying opinions by X users. Some are against it, stating that this feels like a removal of a very important privacy feature where one could retain control of who could see one's posts. Additionally, some believe this change could lead to increased harassment.
On the other hand, some believe that for public accounts, if someone that has been blocked wanted to see your posts, they could get around the restriction by creating another account — thus rendering the block feature useless.
Post by the @XEng account announcing that the change to blocking will be coming soon. | Screenshot of X post credit — PhoneArena
This change is just one of many that Musk has made to X since purchasing it. Reportedly, this is being done to promote free speech, something that Musk has professed is needed on the platform. He believes that users should be able to see all public posts, even if they are from someone they have blocked.
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It remains to be seen how this change will affect users. Some may find it helpful, while others may find it annoying. I personally am not happy with it, or many of the changes the platform has undergone since the ownership change, and as a result I now spend less time on it. Maybe that's a good thing in my case, but I doubt that was the intended result. However, Only time will tell how this change will impact the platform and whether it will bring about more harassment cases.
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Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and official member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.
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