Twitter is always testing some new “feature” that no one asked for and that only serves to stifle conservation on the platform. Now we’re hearing that Twitter is testing out a new “Safety Mode” that helps users “prevent being overwhelmed by harmful tweets.” We didn’t know tweets could be harmful, but Twitter seems to think so.
Twitter announced the test of a new feature called "Safety Mode," which aims to help users prevent being overwhelmed by harmful tweets and unwanted replies and mentions. https://t.co/5OumyzXxDS
— CNN International (@cnni) September 2, 2021
CNN reports:
With the Safety Mode tool, when a user turns it on in settings, Twitter’s systems will assess incoming tweets’ “content and the relationship between the tweet author and replier.” If Twitter’s automated system finds an account to have repeated, harmful engagement with the user, it will block the account for seven days from following the user’s account, viewing their tweets or sending them direct messages.
…
For now, Safety Mode is just a limited test, rolling out Wednesday to “a small feedback group” of English-language users on iOS, Android, and Twitter.com, including “people from marginalized communities and female journalists.”
Female journalists? How soft are they? Twitter must think they can’t handle anything seeing as it banned “learn to code” tweets aimed at laid-off reporters.
The "block" button?
— Jeff Ellington 🪕 (@Jeff__Ellington) September 2, 2021
Recommended
Soft. Everyone. Soft
— Ab Millward (@AbsMillward) September 2, 2021
— Sandy 〽️ (@RightGlockMom) September 2, 2021
Twitter: Protecting you from hearing unwanted opinions and maintaining your filter bubble for the preservation of polarization.
— Charlton Burton (@DylanHeydon) September 2, 2021
South Park already did this.
— Craic Yehuda (@indoeuropa) September 2, 2021
Candyass Mode is more like it.
— @UnearthingAmerica ⬅️ Gab (@Unearthing_USA) September 2, 2021
"Harmful" is subjective and usually means "opinions that don't agree with mine."
— TurtlePower98 (@sstaedtler98) September 2, 2021
"Echo chamber mode"
— Take3Tylenol 👑 (@Take3Tylenol) September 2, 2021
Maybe they shouldn’t make stupid takes and grow a pair when they do.
— Tango (@tangoix21) September 2, 2021
— Alex Hoener (@alex_hoener) September 2, 2021
Or, uninstall Twitter, go outside.
— Angrymonkey2489 (@Angrymonkey2489) September 2, 2021
So this will create a fake safety blanket for users providing agreement and positive replies only to be shocked later when challenged in the real world that not everyone agrees with them. 🙄
— Robert (@Sp0ngeR0b) September 2, 2021
My god. What have we become?
— Daniel LaMontagne 🇺🇸🐊 (@DanLaMontagne) September 2, 2021
CNN will be the first user of this new feature.
— Cody Cook (@CantusFirmusCC) September 2, 2021
Can people not just use the tools already available to them? Are they that incapable? pic.twitter.com/VSmYWji8Q8
— ⚡ rogue ai fire control system 💥 (@25_pdr) September 2, 2021
They are 100% capable, and simultaneously 100% actively choose not to use the tools.
— KtotheFtotheM (@KTTFTTMofficial) September 2, 2021
Society truly has become weak 🤡🌎
— BloodlustHunter (FFXIV Endwalker HYPE!) (@HunterBloodlust) September 2, 2021
Journalist paradise
— nulltacosalesman (@n_t_s_m_) September 2, 2021
I'm never turning that feature on. Men and women are different.
Bring it on.
— Have a great time. (@0nlineGuy) September 2, 2021
— Jay Cooper (@jaycarlcooper) September 2, 2021
I love this idea. Nobody should have consequences to their own actions.
— Soup_To_Nuts (@NutsSoup) September 2, 2021
You can just protect your tweets?
— ʙʀᴀɴᴅᴏɴ (@BrandonIsWhoIAm) September 2, 2021
Or, people can stop intentionally saying inept and incompetent things just to get lots of attention…
— KtotheFtotheM (@KTTFTTMofficial) September 2, 2021
The entire country is on safety mode right now and it's pathetic
— Hyperion Bladebreaker (@BreakerHyperion) September 2, 2021
Twitter’s really cracking down on misinformation and harmful tweets and open discussion.
Related:
Erick Erickson, Allie Beth Stuckey given time-outs from Twitter for harassment after misgendering trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard https://t.co/dvx6IxH7Dv
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 7, 2021