Billionaire X owner Elon Musk has ignited controversy yet again with his latest announcement concerning the app's block feature.
On Monday, Musk confirmed that the new update would allow blocked users to view the posts of those who blocked them. While the reasons behind the move remain unclear, it has generated widespread frustration and backlash.
Web developer Nima Owji disclosed the news first on the same day. She took to X to tweet:
"X is about to remove the current block button, meaning that if an account is public, their posts will be visible to the blocked users as well!"
Musk chimed in to concur:
"High time this happened. The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public posts."
Elon Musk faces intense backlash
The internet was enraged, as many began speculating about the motives behind the change and its implications. Some claimed it was so that everyone would see advertisements, while others feared for their safety, noting that it would be harder to steer clear of harassment on X. "It’s about time we find a new app …," one user noted.
Several others echoed these sentiments, flooding the comment section of his post with backlash.
"He’s just upset everyone has him blocked," one user noted.
"This is 100% because Elon thinks it’ll increase ad viewerships because everyone blocks ad companies and now they will still see the posts. I hate this app," another user declared.
"Elon is literally ANNOYING. The whole point of a block is to remove somebody from being able to monitor/interact you, this is only going to cause people to log into other accounts to harass," yet another user echoed.
People expressed deep disappointment as the backlash seemingly kept intensifying.
"I speak for everyone when i say this is an awful decision and completely defeats the purpose of blocking someone. elon continues to ruin this app day by day," someone noted.
"Actively encouraging harassment," yet another pointed out.
"Is there anyone left to tell him when his ideas are bad because," a user asked.
However, Owji responded to Elon Musk, noting that this was a good move. According to him, the block button, especially for public accounts, "was a stupid feature since everyone could view the posts from their browser’s incognito mode."
This isn't the first time Elon Musk has tried to get rid of the block button. He first had a go at it in August last year, when he claimed that he would eliminate the block button, as it "makes no sense." He noted that it would only prevent blocked users from DMing those who blocked them.
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The last time Elon Musk tinkered with the block feature was in May 2024, when X announced that you could now view a blocked user's reply if they commented on your posts. According to the platform, the move came in the wake of their goal to align the block feature with their principles as a public town square.
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