*X (formerly Twitter) is introducing a change to its block function, allowing blocked users to still view posts from public accounts.
Previously, the block feature prevented both viewing and engaging with posts. The update has sparked widespread criticism, with many users arguing that it weakens the block feature and could enable harassment and stalking. X’s engineering page announced on Oct 16: “Soon we’ll be launching a change to how the block function works. If your posts are set to public, accounts you have blocked will be able to view them, but they will not be able to engage (like, reply, repost, etc.).
A follow up post stated: “Today, block can be used by users to share and hide harmful or private information about those they’ve blocked. Users will be able to see if such behavior occurs with this update, allowing for greater transparency.”
In response, one X user wrote, “this seems more like a big hissy fit from elon being blocked by a huge amount of people on the app. horrible abuse of power.”
Another person added, “People block who they don’t want to see or see them. That’s the point. They do NOT want transparency… why don’t y’all just stop already?”
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Soon we’ll be launching a change to how the block function works.
If your posts are set to public, accounts you have blocked will be able to view them, but they will not be able to engage (like, reply, repost, etc.).
— Engineering (@XEng) October 16, 2024
User @flashflair23 wrote “This is unacceptable!!! The whole point if blocking accounts is to keep us public but still safe from harassment and from seeing accounts that write harmful posts. We worked hard to creat a safe community without making our accounts private and they you just blow it all up in our faces. You guys don’t care at all about our safety.”
Several people called out the app for aiming for “transparency” while also hiding “Likes.” As one person noted, “You can’t say “for greater transparency” while also hiding likes lol”
“They say greater transparency but they also hid the ability to click on a tweet and see who liked it,” wrote another X user.
In June, the popular social media platform announced that it would allow adult content, albeit with certain restrictions. While X has never restricted adult or graphic content, it now hides “likes” to safeguard users who view it.
As Deadline reported, NSFW content on the platform is defined as “consensually produced and distributed material depicting adult nudity or sexual behavior that is pornographic or intended to cause sexual arousal.”
“We believe in the autonomy of adults to engage with and create content that reflects their own beliefs, desires, and experiences, including those related to sexuality,” per X’s Adult Content page. “We balance this freedom by restricting exposure to Adult Content for children or adult users who choose not to see it. We also prohibit content promoting exploitation, nonconsent, objectification, sexualization or harm to minors, and obscene behaviors,” the page continues. “We also do not allow sharing Adult Content in highly visible places such as profile photos or banners.”
All adult content on X is restricted to children and adult users who opt not to view it.
For more control over who can see your posts, you can still protect your account by following these steps: https://t.co/mkGs7HYiDK
— Engineering (@XEng) October 16, 2024
“We launched Adult Content and Violent Content policies — but what we enforce against has not changed – we launched these policies to clarify our Rules and increase transparency on our enforcement,” a rep for X told Deadline.
“These policies replace our former Sensitive Media and Violent Speech policies which means we continue to act on these types of content with the exact same philosophy,” the rep continued.
Elon Musk said X made “likes” private to allow users to favorite adult content while protecting their public image.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Elon Musk Conceals ‘Likes’ to Protect X Users Viewing P0rn Content
