X Controversial Block Feature Update To Allow Blocked Accounts to View Your Public Posts

Highlights

• X’s new block feature update allows blocked accounts to view public posts.
• Blocked accounts can’t engage with posts, follow, send messages or tag photos.
• Blocked accounts but can view followers and following lists.
• X’s claim of increased transparency as users worry about harassment and stalking.

X has begun rolling out the update to its block feature, which sparked a controversy when it was first announced last month.

The new block feature update will now permit blocked accounts to still view the public posts of the person who blocked them.

We’re starting to launch the block function update

— Engineering (@XEng) November 3, 2024

This update has sparked criticism from users concerned about their safety and privacy. It was first announced at X’s Engineering handle @XEng on 16 October.

Many users argued after the announcement that they don’t want blocked accounts to have access to their posts.

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

It is important to note that even after the update, blocked accounts will no longer be able to follow, engage with posts or send direct messages to the person who blocked them.

However, they can now see the followers and following lists of those who have blocked them.

The X support page previously mentioned that blocked users couldn’t see these lists but this reference has since been removed.

The social network claims this update increases transparency saying the block feature could sometimes be used to hide or share private or harmful information.

However, users have questioned this reasoning, pointing out that X already offers an option to make accounts private, which better supports controlling who sees posts.

Those of us who have stalkers on here and content thieves don’t appreciate this change at all and shouldn’t need to lock our accounts to protect ourselves from predatory types.

— Mountain Streams – AJay (@HDealla) November 3, 2024

This approach to blocking differs from the way it’s traditionally implemented on social media and when X initially announced the planned revamp, users expressed concerns that it might lead to increased harassment and stalking.

Software engineer and tech diversity advocate Tracy Chou, who developed an app to help users block accounts automatically noted that while determined users can create new accounts to bypass blocks, adding friction is still important.

“Making it easy for the creeper to creep is not a good thing,” she posted on X last month.

i’m sure someone from twitter (elon) is arguing that block evasions were always possible from other accounts but the point is that friction matters!! making it easy for a creeper to creep is not a good thing!!

— Tracy Chou 🌻 (@triketora) October 17, 2024

What You Need to Know About Using Block Feature on X?

Blocked accounts can see your posts if they are public, but they cannot –

• Engage with your posts such as Like, Reply, Repost, etc
• Follow you
• Send Direct Messages to you
• Add your X account to their lists
• Tag you in a photo

For protected accounts, blocked users cannot view posts, as these are only visible to followers.

Other important points to know about the block feature –

• When you block an account, they are automatically unfollowed from you and you are unfollowed from them.
• If you later unblock them, you’ll need to follow them again manually.
• Blocked accounts are not notified of the block but if they visit your profile, they’ll see they’ve been blocked.
• Block is different from muting, which is invisible to the muted account.
• You won’t receive notifications from blocked accounts or from accounts you don’t follow that mention you in conversations started by blocked accounts.
• You will see mentions from accounts you follow in those conversations.
• To view all mentions, users can search for your username.

FAQs

Q1. What is the main update to X’s block feature?

Answer. The new block feature update allows blocked accounts to view the public posts of the person who blocked them.

Q2. Can blocked accounts engage with your posts on X?

Answer. No, blocked accounts cannot engage with posts such as Like, Reply, Repost, etc., follow you, send Direct Messages to you, add your X account to their lists, or tag you in a photo.

Q3. What can blocked accounts see on profiles after the update?

Answer. Blocked accounts can see the followers and following lists of those who have blocked them.

Q4. What is the users’ main concern regarding the block feature update on X?

Answer. Users are concerned about their safety and privacy, fearing that the update might lead to increased harassment and stalking.

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