[arista]

[Elon Musk is facing a backlash after announcing
that the block button on X (fomerly Twitter) will
no longer prevent people from viewing posts.
The billionaire, who took over the
social media app in 2022, said the update
was long overdue, having previously claimed
that the feature “makes no sense”
and should be removed entirely.

“High time this happened,”
Mr Musk wrote on X. “
The block function
will block that account from engaging
with, but not block seeing, public posts]


https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/x...-b2617880.html

[The Slim Reaper]

Just so he can spam Nazi and Russian propaganda straight into everyone's timeline.

[Ray.]

Probably a good move. Society has become far too atomised and comfortable with isolating themselves into their own little bubbles, forever fearful of interacting with what they would regard as the 'other'. Now they'll all just have to deal with each other in the de facto public square of social media.

Mercifully, I don't use Twitter/X.

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Ray.

Probably a good move. Society has become far too atomised and comfortable with isolating themselves into their own little bubbles, forever fearful of interacting with what they would regard as the 'other'. Now they'll all just have to deal with each other in the de facto public square of social media.

Mercifully, I don't use Twitter/X.

It's not a good thing. The numbers of bots and actual nazis on there these days is out of control, and it's already increasingly difficult to avoid this being spammed at us. This will be disastrous for users, but I think he's a petulant child who was probably blocked by a majority of x users. He's one of the dumbest people on the site, and that's not hyperbolic.

I used to defend twitter before he bought it, because it was both good and bad, now it's mostly bad.

[Maru]

That's kind of funny.

[Gusto Brunt]

The block button is pointless. Those posts exist whether you like them or not. Just man up and see the world as it is.

[Mystic Mock]

Personally I support this decision.

It forces people into actually having to listen to differing views to their own, and not creating an echo chamber, like we do see on other areas of the Internet.

[bots]

It will balance itself out. People will just delete their account if they feel it is unacceptable. I haven't used X since Musk bought it

[Nicky91]

Elon Musk aka the Deluded Fathead Dictator of X


people should have the right to block those whoever they want to block

[user104658]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Just so he can spam Nazi and Russian propaganda straight into everyone's timeline.

Hm. And every aggressive incel on the platform can get themselves off bully/harass/threatening people (women of course mostly) with no way of being stuffed back into their basements.

Of course what will happen eventually is that most people will just leave, and those who stay can play Soggy Biscuit with Elon Musk until the end of time on what will become little more than his own version of Truth Social.

[Oliver_W]

As long as users can still MUTE one another, what's the issue?

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

Hm. And every aggressive incel on the platform can get themselves off bully/harass/threatening people (women of course mostly) with no way of being stuffed back into their basements.

Of course what will happen eventually is that most people will just leave, and those who stay can play Soggy Biscuit with Elon Musk until the end of time on what will become little more than his own version of Truth Social.

It's a real cesspit these days, and pretty unusable at times. I think this new thing will be the end of me using it. Not totally opposed to having Nazi's on there if they're all about free speech, but I am opposed to having my timeline absolutely bombarded with them, and as you say, the absolute dregs of society, thrown in for good measure.

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

As long as users can still MUTE one another, what's the issue?

I think mute is being removed, too.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

I think mute is being removed, too.

Mrs Quantum (who has used Twitter for years extensively both personally and professionally) is fairly convinced that it literally can't be, due to certain TOC's in both the Apple Store and Google Play store. Basically harassment clauses that stipulate that on any app that allows direct communication between people, there needs to be a mechanism to ignore messages. For obvious reasons I suppose - if they fully remove the ability to block and ignore it won't just be a political cesspit, it'll flat-out be nothing but an unfathomable horde of unsolicited dick pics.

So while they can do that on the platform, technically, and release the app for direct download - neither app store will list it.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Another great move from Elon

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

Another great move from Elon

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

Personally I support this decision.

It forces people into actually having to listen to differing views to their own, and not creating an echo chamber, like we do see on other areas of the Internet.

That’s ridiculous

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

Mrs Quantum (who has used Twitter for years extensively both personally and professionally) is fairly convinced that it literally can't be, due to certain TOC's in both the Apple Store and Google Play store. Basically harassment clauses that stipulate that on any app that allows direct communication between people, there needs to be a mechanism to ignore messages. For obvious reasons I suppose - if they fully remove the ability to block and ignore it won't just be a political cesspit, it'll flat-out be nothing but an unfathomable horde of unsolicited dick pics.

So while they can do that on the platform, technically, and release the app for direct download - neither app store will list it.

Just had a quick google and it appears you're spot on, so that's some minor relief at least. I did read that mute has been removed from all the adverts - which is odd, as I don't really see any ads on there anymore. Maybe something to do with my browser extensions.

This block thing is definitely not going to bring back the ad revenue he's lost. Bought it for $44b, now worth $4b. The mans a genius, though.

[user104658]

I'm about 80% convinced Musk has tanked/is tanking X deliberately. I can't say I know enough about billionaire-business to understand why he would be doing that, but every decision made seems purposeful to that end.

[The Slim Reaper]

Absolute state of this dweeb.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Liam-

That’s ridiculous

Is it?

I feel like groups like Incels and other extremist groups exist on such a mainstream level, is because people shut themselves off to views and groups of people that they don't like, and then they start developing more extreme viewpoints that border on being dangerous, due to being left unchecked by anyone not in the echo chamber.

Controversially I don't like the ignore function on here either, fair enough to the people that use it but it's just not really my thing.

I'll be honest and admit that I used it once or twice on here when I was a kid, but I personally hated it as I felt like I was not really fully embracing everything that the community had to offer.

And yes, imo if someone on Twitter is taking things too far, say there's cyberbullying happening on the site. Then yes, there should be an option to block the Cyberbullies IP address from being able to communicate with you.

But yes, I do believe that people should have to listen to differing political opinions.

I mean I had someone on the Internet telling me that Labour are worse than Britain First, if I can read that and not block the person, then other adults should be able to do the same thing imo.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

I'm about 80% convinced Musk has tanked/is tanking X deliberately. I can't say I know enough about billionaire-business to understand why he would be doing that, but every decision made seems purposeful to that end.

I wouldn't be surprised.

After all I keep getting bots wanting to follow me on there every single day, which I don't remember being an issue with my old account that I had on there when I was a kid.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

After all I keep getting bots wanting to follow me on there every single day

I had the same issue with my foot fetish onlyfans, just tell him it's harassment and to leave you alone.

[bots]

it's a play thing to keep the richest man in the world amused. It doesn't need to have a purpose behind it. I think thats the point most people are missing

[Cherie]

People have free choice to use it or not, never used Twitter/X and never will

[Ammi]

…so, 13yr olds can post on Twitter but can’t restrict who can access their posts…?…if it was someone who was trying to gain information or even bullying…?…