Musk plans to remove the block feature from X/Twitter

Elon Musk posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, announcing his plan to remove the block feature from the X/Twitter website.

The block feature, like other social media platforms, prevents accounts chosen at the user's discretion from viewing or interacting with said user’s account. The feature is typically used to limit online harassment and deter scamming/bot accounts, although the feature can be used for any reason.

The removal of the block feature has many concerned about an increase in online harassment. The CEO of X, Linda Yaccarino, said the platform is working on a “better” version of block and mute. She assured users that their online safety is X’s number one priority.

It is unclear if X will be able to follow through with their plans of removing the block feature. Currently, the two biggest online app stores, Google Play Store and the App Store, require apps with user-generated content to feature blocking functionality. Musk was able to skirt the App Store’s rule requiring app names on the platform to be at least two characters when he rebranded the site from Twitter to X.