Elon's latest X-periment: Blocked users can still stalk your public tweets
- Reference: 1727187306
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/09/24/x_block_changes/
- Source link:
The change will mean that if a user blocks someone, their public tweets would still be visible by that account. However, the blocked account would not be able to engage with the post.
"High time this happened," Musk [1]said . "The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block [from] seeing, public post[s]."
[2]
This isn't the first time the platform has dabbled with blocking. More than ten years ago, Twitter, as X was formerly known, added the ability for users to view the tweets of accounts that had blocked them and tweet at them, but the activity was hidden from the blocker.
[3]
[4]
Twitter rolled back the change after an outcry. In a 2013 [5]statement , the company wrote: "In reverting this change to the block function, users will once again be able to tell that they've been blocked.
[6]Cards Against Humanity deals SpaceX a $15M lawsuit over Texas turf tangle
[7]Trump taps Musk to lead 'government efficiency' task force
[8]Age discrimination layoff case against X granted class-action status
[9]Musk's X, Media Matters headed to trial
"We believe this is not ideal, largely due to the retaliation against blocking users by blocked users (and sometimes their friends) that often occurs. Some users worry just as much about post-blocking retaliation as they do about pre-blocking abuse."
X now plans to change blocking again, although this time engagement with posts will not be permitted.
There are plenty of workarounds for determined users to view posts from accounts that have blocked them. However, the decision to alter how blocking works again could concern account holders and prviacy campaigners.
[10]
Responses to Musk's message have been mostly negative. One user described it as a "terrible idea," [11]explaining : "The main reasons people block others is for their own safety/privacy. This will also allow trolls to mass report people they disagree with."
It is unclear when the change will be rolled out. We asked X for a timeline and if it had considered the opinion of users against the update. The company has yet to reply. ®
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[1] https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1838285460440862861
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZvLiI7ZfUXy_PKqz21Hu6QAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZvLiI7ZfUXy_PKqz21Hu6QAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZvLiI7ZfUXy_PKqz21Hu6QAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://blog.x.com/official/en_us/a/2013/reverting-the-changes-to-block-functionality.html
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/23/cards_against_humanity_spacex/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/06/musk_government_efficiency_trump/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/05/age_discrimination_layoff_twitter_x_musk/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/30/media_matters_elon_musk_x_lawsuit/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZvLiI7ZfUXy_PKqz21Hu6QAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://x.com/DK_Able/status/1838295945085092180
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Meh
You can't view anything without logging in now, but creating a new account will work.
The story goes..
..an engineer told Musk his account was the most blocked on Twitt.. X.
So, of course he wants you to see his Tweets, even if you block him.
Self motivated as usual.
Re: The story goes..
One downvote... hi Elon.
and once again
the very best thing to do with Twitter/X and Arsebook and all their ilk is to NOT HAVE ACCOUNTS THERE. They can't follow you around if you're not there.
Hint: I don't have accounts on anything even close to antisocial media except here on El Reg and over on Linksys, and I haven't posted anything on my Linksys account in years. Well, I do have USENET access, but killfiles work there. The remaining idiot who follows me around really hates it when I point out why he got booted from the Royal Navy 40 years ago and has, for the most part, stopped. Every now and again he starts again, and I remind him. He's not real bright even for a self-hating raging queen who really likes Big Black Men in certain ways despite being exceedingly racist.
Re: and once again
If you think they can't track you online if you don't have an account with them, you very much misunderstand the online targeted advertising industry.
The main reasons people block others is for their own safety/privacy. This will also allow trolls to mass report people they disagree with.
For safety you would have deleted your twitter account when musky took control. If there is one troll in the room, then it is musky, who disagrees with everybody except himself (*) .
(*) And I'm not even sure he agrees with himself with his self-contradictory ways.
Not that I like Twitter
Its only good for a few retro computer/game posts and WHS_carpet (about WHSmith Carpets, originally). But other than that, its shit under his watch.
The point however is, if you're a politician using it, then what you say is public record, so even if you've blocked someone from replying they should still be able to read the bollocks you post on Twitter.
Meh
If they're public xeets,the blocked user would only need to view them without logging in (when it works) or create another account - not a great deterrence