Musk’s Plan to Remove Block Feature on X Raises Concerns About Harassment
In 2018, Rachel Cullen began experiencing a surge in followers on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. As a writer from northern England, she was used to using the platform for self-promotion, so initially, she didn’t think much of it. However, she soon realized that these new followers were not genuine and were creating offensive accounts to harass her. Cullen suspected that her ex-partner was behind these accounts, but without identification verification on the platform, she had no concrete proof. She relied on the blocking feature to cope with the situation.
Cullen’s experience is unfortunately not uncommon on X. Many users, including anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky, spoke out against Elon Musk’s announcement that X would remove the block feature. Lewinsky emphasized the importance of this feature in keeping people safe online. X CEO Linda Yaccarino responded, stating that user safety is their top priority and that they are working on building something better. However, no timeline for the feature’s removal has been shared.
Harassment and abuse have been ongoing issues on X even before Musk’s involvement. A 2021 survey found that 17% of adult Twitter users had experienced harassment on the site. Marginalized groups, such as women, LGBTQ individuals, people of color, and religious or ethnic minorities, are particularly vulnerable to online hate and harassment. While X did make progress in combating harassment before Musk’s acquisition, researchers noted a significant increase in hate speech and the reinstatement of banned accounts after he took over.
The removal of the block feature is concerning for users because it is one of the few shields against online abuse. While the mute function can still be used to filter out content from certain users, it doesn’t provide the same level of protection as blocking. Blocking cuts off communication between the targeted user and the harasser, whereas muting only hides the content.
The absence of the block feature and the shutdown of third-party service Block Party leave users with limited options to protect themselves from harmful content and harassment. This may lead to users disengaging from the platform or even leaving it entirely. Without invisible defense mechanisms, users may feel more vulnerable to escalated situations and unwanted interactions.
Rachel Cullen, who relied on blocking to keep harassment at bay, is concerned about the impact on women who face more severe threats. She describes it as a constant phantom that hangs over these individuals. The removal of the block feature on X raises important questions about user safety and the platform’s responsibility to address harassment and abuse.
