From the wrong word to cyberbullying: the reasons for blocking a person on a social network are multiple and specific to each person, but for several years they have made it possible to secure platforms by offering a more serene environment. But according to Elon Musk, this feature “wouldn’t make sense.”
According to the owner of Twitter (now called “X”), the ability to block a user would soon be in jeopardy, at least in its current form. For the moment, the blocking implies the impossibility for the blocked Internet user to consult the profile and contents of another.
In fact, Elon Musk would like to implement a new restriction system, which would probably go towards an improved “mute” button. This function would thus make it possible to hide the messages coming from a person, without preventing them from consulting theirs.
A function already implemented on YouTube for example. The video platform allows creators to hide from users, without them noticing. Therefore, they can continue to comment on the videos, but none of these comments are visible to the channel’s viewers.
Interpretation of the rules
Because in theory, removing the blocking function of a user in the strict sense is not allowed by the application stores, which house, among other things, the different social networks. In the App Store rules, it is noted that apps with user-generated content must include the ability to block abusive users of the service. Same story on the Google side, in charge of the Play Store.
However, on paper, nothing specifies that these two rules require the blocking feature to be accessible to each Internet user, individually. According to what was written by the app stores, the text seems above all to mention a blockage emanating from the platform, thus assimilated to an account suspension.
However, a light has come. by Yoel Roth, former Twitter security chief, who believes that Apple and Google policies do not require apps to offer individual blocking. An option that is not imposed by the DSA either, a new regulation of social networks that will come into force on August 25, 2023.
Upcoming reworked feature
Even highly debatable, these obligations did not take long for Elon Musk to be reminded through Community Notes, these context notes that allow more information to be brought in a tweet. Some contributors have added these explanations under the X/Twitter owner’s tweet referring to the possible removal of the “Block” button.
The platform teams, however, defended themselves against a possible bad decision by stating that the “block” feature was not effective as is.
Elon Musk has like this accurate in a tweet that only private messages could be blocked, wishing in passing that the “mute” button “could work” by making any mention of the Internet user invisible. And for those who wouldn’t like this news (who would let them know), the billionaire he claimed that he was going to… block them.
Source: BFM TV
