X is changing the block function, allowing blocked users to see public posts

[midian182]

Facepalm: Elon Musk is making a major change to the way blocking works on his former Twitter platform, X. The billionaire owner has announced that once the change is implemented, those who you have blocked will be able to see your public posts – they just won't be able to interact with you.

Traditionally, blocking someone on X/Twitter means they cannot access your account to see posts, leave comments, etc. But Musk has never been a fan of this method, and is now changing it.

"High time this happened," he replied to a post from Nima Owji that revealed the news. "The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post."

High time this happened.

The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post.

– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 23, 2024

A source from X told The Verge that the reason for the change was that people can already see posts from users who have blocked them – all they have to do is use another account or log out.

Musk has talked about making changes to the block function in the past. He said last year that it "makes no sense" and that "it needs to be deprecated in favor of a stronger form of mute." He also said X would remove the block option altogether, except for when used with direct messages.

Responses to the news has been almost entirely negative. Several people have pointed out that people block accounts for safety and security reasons, especially when it comes to women being harassed by stalkers.

It's not clear when the change will be implemented, though some users say it has already come into effect for them.

Musk's announcement follows reports that X has seen a significant decline in users in both the US and UK in recent months.

We are making changes to how block works.

If a user who has blocked you replies to one of your posts, you will now be able to see their reply. This change enables you to identify and report any potential bad content that you previously could not view, safeguarding both your…

– Engineering (@XEng) May 2, 2024

X's Engineering account said in May that it was making changes to how the block feature would work: If a person replied to a post of someone they had blocked, that person would now be able to see the reply. X said this would allow people to identify and report any potential bad content that they previously could not view. The company claimed the move was part of its commitment to "aligning the block feature with our principles as a public town square." It never said when the change would roll out.

Masthead: Alexander Shatov

Permalink to story:

X is changing the block function, allowing blocked users to see public posts

 

[The Talking Tech]

The best way to block people on X is not to use X.

 

[VariableSpike]

Wonder if this just because Elon had a hissy fit over someone blocking him and not being able to see it and making the engineers change the behaviour as a result

 

[umeng2002]

Blocking doesn't work. Never has. Unless you make your account private. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

[redgarl]

Ironically, this is what Blocking should do...

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

This change makes sense to me; as the article states "blocked" people could simply log out to see public posts anyways, so it was pretty pointless to make it part of the block function.

 

[yRaz]

Well, of a user is blocked they can just log out to see public posts. Maybe don't put your life on social media if you want privacy?

I mean, it's one thing to not want to be stalked, it's another to put your whole life on social media and expect privacy. I understand there is a whole generation that grew up with social media, but it seems that they lack an understanding of the privacy they give up by participating in it.

 

[Kotters]

Twitter is a public website and blocking never actually prevented someone from seeing your public posts, as already stated by the article and other comments. I fail to see what's controversial, other than just the general distaste for anything attributed to Musk

 

[hahahanoobs]

I thought X was THE free speech platform.
All I'm hearing are restrictions.

 

[Kotters]

I thought X was THE free speech platform.
All I'm hearing are restrictions.

Then you didn't read the article. This is the opposite.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

If anything, this makes the reality of blocking more transparent to users. As others point out, logging out to view a *public post* is easy.

And if someone is stalking you, logging out is way easier than hiding in the bushes all night, so that red herring should be removed from the article. This change in no way impacts stalking (either for good or bad) so it's simply distracting I'm-mad-at-X noise.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I'm glad Elon is committed to drama. If you have to block on social media and have a meltdown about the people you cant see being able to read what you publicly post, well, just get off of the internet, you dont have the mentality for it.

I'm also glad to see Techspot re-commit to their weekly "Musk Bad" articles. I worried we were getting soft over here.

 

[monkeylove]

About time.

 

[toooooot]

I dont get it. People indeed can just switch an accoutn or ask a friend to screenshot the thing they can't see.
Another problem with the old option was that these are still public messages. You allow an unlimited number of people see your comment, BUT NOT THAT SPECIFIC PERSON.
This is pretty stupid. It is similar to telling someone:I do not let you hear me when I speak. Ye ye, you are standing right there 5 steps away from me, just turn that thing off because this is not for you.
What is it they like to say, it is about the message not the money.

 

[Axeia]

So basically people you've blocked can now see things slightly more easily. Before they had to copy the url, open a private tab (or another browser) and paste the link.

If you don't want someone to read what you post either
A) Don't post it in the first place
B) Post it privately
Expecting a public post to be hidden from certain users but only if they're logged in is a very niche case imo. If you have a problem with stalkers - make your profile private. Stalkers by definition are weirdos that have a ton of accounts in the first place, it's not like they can do something now they couldn't do previously.

 

[Northy]

Ironically, this is what Blocking should do...

Yeah, it's what every other forum I've participated in does. If you don't want to see something/someone you block it/them. Simples.

Failing that that the next logical step is to take all the computing equipment outside and set fire to it.