X Makes Radical Changes to Ban System
In a controversial move, Elon Musk , owner of the X platform (formerly Twitter), announced new changes that allow blocked users to see posts from accounts that blocked them.
Although blocked users will not be able to interact with these accounts by liking, replying, or reposting, they will now be able to view posts that those accounts publish publicly.
According to sources inside the company, these changes come in response to banned users creating alternative accounts to avoid being banned, and interacting with the accounts that banned them.
Musk has long expressed his desire to remove the platform's "blocking" feature, saying it was "meaningless" and a "limited-effect feature."
Last May, the engineering account on the X platform announced plans to implement these changes, but without specifying a specific date for implementation.
The account explained that the goal of this change is to give banned users the ability to “identify and report any harmful content they were previously unable to see.”
This change is expected to spark widespread controversy among users, as some users see it as reducing the privacy of blocked users, while others see it as opening the door to more unwanted interactions.
Blocking – in its digital sense – is an effective way to reduce online bullying and abuse, so reducing its effectiveness may create a more tense and negative environment.
It is still unclear how these changes will affect the platform in the long term, as the platform seeks to strike a balance between preserving freedom of expression and ensuring users' digital security. However, the broad changes the platform has been making since Elon Musk acquired it may backfire and push users towards competing platforms that offer them greater protection and privacy.