Elon Musk wants to remove the ban feature on Twitter X’s successor

According to experts, the blocking function is useful in the case of harassment and hate campaigns. The Auschwitz memorial also insists that it be preserved.

Elon Musk has faced criticism over his plans to remove the blocking functionality on his X (formerly Twitter) platform. For example, the Auschwitz Memorial noted that its profile regularly blocks authors of anti-Semitic comments and Holocaust deniers. If their accounts are reported, the monument emphasized, this will often remain without result. With the blocking function, one can protect the memory of the Nazi concentration camp victims.

Musk announced on X on Friday that the ban functionality will be removed from public posts. However, you should stay for direct messages. Already in June, Musk wrote that the ban does not make sense, and instead an expanded mute function should suffice. After that, steps in this direction were not known at first. Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion last fall, announcing, among other things, fewer restrictions on what can be said on the platform.

Block vs. Mute

Blocking and muting have different consequences for X. If someone blocks an account, they won’t see their posts anymore. At the same time, the blocked person cannot see or interact with the posts of the brow. In recent years, experts have indicated that the function is useful to victims, among other things, in the event of harassment and hate campaigns. Mute, on the other hand, only hides posts from the account. However, the muted person can’t see this – they can still see the posts of the muted user.

It wasn’t clear at first whether Musk was violating the rules of the Apple and Google app stores by removing the functionality. Both platforms require social media apps to be able to block users for misconduct. However, the wording leaves open whether only the platform operator or users should be able to do so. However, developers have reported rejecting the app in the past because the option wasn’t intended for users. (APA)