We all know it: social media can be a double-edged sword. With one click we can reach people from all over the world, but just as quickly we can be confronted with unwanted content or aggressive trolls. The blocking function on platforms such as Twitter has previously offered a defense option. But Elon Musk, now at the helm of the newly named Platform X, believes this feature is unnecessary. “It doesn’t make sense,” he says, posing an existential question to the digital community: Do we really need a blocking function?
Elon Musk: “Block is going to be deleted as a “feature”, except for DMs”
The emergence of unwanted content
It's no secret that anti-Semitic content and hate postings on X have increased since Musk took over. But is eliminating the blocking feature really the right answer? Experts and governments criticize X for its apparent reluctance to moderate content. Musk's insistence on free speech becomes the focal point of this debate.
A delicate balancing act
But it's not just about content. Technical policies from major players like Apple and Google could target X because of this decision. App stores often require protection mechanisms against abusive content. Without a blocking function, X could violate these rules. X's board is trying to put out the fire: a better alternative is apparently in the works. But is that enough?
Muting as a compromise?
Interestingly, Musk does not plan to remove all protection measures. Mute, a quieter brother of blocking, remains. It offers users a kind of “blindness” to unwanted accounts, but does not inform them about it. Is this the happy medium or just small consolation?
Conclusion: Playing with fire
Elon Musk's decision to remove the blocking feature from X is polarizing and confronts us with a question about the nature of social media and how we deal with unwanted content. While some celebrate the removal as a bold step to support free expression, others see it as a threat to user safety. At a time when the digital world and the real world are increasingly merging, it remains to be seen what impact this decision will have on the community and digital discourse.
Also read: Censorship or technical error? The controversial “link brake” from X
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