Social network X announced the launch of an updated blocking feature that allows blocked accounts to view public messages. The updated feature also allows accounts that have been blocked by a user to see lists of their current and previous followers.
«If your posts are public, accounts you block may be able to see your posts. However, they cannot interact (like, reply, repost, etc.) with your posts,” X says on its updated support page.
The changes to the blocking feature come after Network X announced new terms of service last month. X owner Elon Musk previously confirmed leaks that appeared on the Internet about upcoming changes to this function.
Previously, Musk has repeatedly responded negatively about the blocking function. “These block lists are annoying. They do nothing to “block” public posts. It’s time to get rid of the lockdown in favor of a stronger shutdown,” he said in March. Last year, Musk was even going to get rid of this feature completely, because he considers it “pointless.”
Feedback from many social network X users after Musk confirmed rumors of an updated feature was negative, but X’s engineering team said the change was necessary because “users could use blocking to spread and hide harmful or personal information about those they block.”
This argument seemed unconvincing, as many X users continue to oppose the implementation of the blocking feature update. “A terrible idea that no one asked for. I block people for security reasons, and if they can still see my messages, what’s the point? — wrote one of the users of the X platform.