Elon Musk announces X (Twitter) will no longer support blocking functionality, users can instead use ‘mute’ feature

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Elon Musk, the mind behind X (formerly known as Twitter), has declared that the platform will no longer offer the option to block other users. Musk argues that the blocking feature «makes no sense» and will be removed, except for direct messages (DMs). This move has generated mixed reactions within the online community. «Block is going to be deleted as a „feature“, except for DMs,» he said in a tweet. In another tweet, he stated that «It makes no sense». The feature in question, commonly known as 'block', empowers users to regulate their interactions with other accounts by preventing specific users from contacting them, viewing their posts, or following them.

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It is particularly valuable for those facing harassment, threats, or stalking. The announcement has brought attention to the tech mogul's longstanding critique of the block function, which he deems insufficient. Musk suggests that users opt for the «mute» feature instead of blocking. However, it's important to note that muting an account merely eliminates its posts from a user's timeline without severing the connection. «You will still be able to mute accounts and block users for DMs,» he said in another post. This contrasts with blocking, where the blocked user is prohibited from viewing public posts. Critics point out that this distinction could leave users vulnerable to unwanted interactions despite muting.

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Jack Dorsey, the former CEO and co-founder of Twitter, supported Musk's decision, advocating for muting over blocking. He succinctly expressed his