A change to Twitter’s “block” function is creating a lot of chatter today. Of concern is that Twitter’s Block button now acts more like a “mute” button. Mashable explains:
Twitter stopped letting you block troublesome followers — now you just can't see their tweets. http://t.co/zIDXey4kKL #Restoretheblock
— Mashable (@mashable) December 13, 2013
Previously, the service allowed you to block any troublesome follower, denying them access to your tweets. Now, in an about-face, the process of blocking simply mutes the user in question, meaning you can’t see their tweets. But they can retweet you, allowing their followers to contact you in turn.
Twitter’s support page elaborates:
Note: If your account is public, blocking a user does not prevent that user from following you, interacting with your Tweets, or receiving your updates in their timeline. If your Tweets are protected, blocking the user will cause them to unfollow you.
In other words, a user you have blocked can still see and retweet your tweets to his or her followers.
Solution for Twitter's new definition of "Block" would be… create a new "Mute" feature, restore the classic "Block" feature. Done.
— Chris Pirillo (@ChrisPirillo) December 13, 2013
Agree RT @JuddLegum: @ZerlinaMaxwell probably a better solution is for Twitter to keep block and just add a "mute" option.
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) December 13, 2013
Wondering if I'd be satisfied if twitter kept this 'mute' block and then added something minimum strong as old block as 2nd option.
— The Boss Also Rises (@laevantine) December 13, 2013
No, you can’t have both — at least not today.
https://twitter.com/rougeandbooks/status/411318964812140544
Twitter's "Block" has become a "Mute". Good luck with that move, spam department.
— Maria Celina (@mariacelina) December 13, 2013
what is twitter thinking? RT @nycjim Now You Can't Really Block Anyone on Twitter http://t.co/QApbCgZlRm … via @mashable
— BrownSquirrel (@BrownSquirrel) December 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/vorrai/status/411319238570164224
The #RestoreTheBlock hashtag is taking off.
https://twitter.com/warrenellis/status/411306584590262272
Hey @twitter, please #RestoreTheBlock button. Add a mute button by all means. But give us block back first.
— James Moran (@jamesmoran) December 13, 2013
Don't give power back to the misogynists, stalkers, and harassers out there. #RestoreTheBlock
— Matt Ford (@fordm) December 13, 2013
One of the things I've enjoyed about twitter was ability to meet so many awesome ppl while also avoiding harassers. #restoretheblock pls.
— Brigid Keely (@brigidkeely) December 13, 2013
I love @twitter more than anyone I know, but I really hope they #RestoreTheBlock. That button makes it possible for a lot of us to BE here.
— Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) December 13, 2013
— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) December 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/411317622807220224
@indeciSEAN it’s insane, it makes no sense. what is the purpose of removing the power of block? #twitter has to #RestoreTheBlock
— TRΞИT ? VΛИΞGΛS (@trentvanegas) December 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/sadowski23/status/411322444675174401
https://twitter.com/tcarmody/status/411324259865460736
https://twitter.com/chrisgrant/status/411324941997735936
There is no excuse for @Twitter to break the right to be left alone. #RestoreTheBlock. You are enabling abuse.
— Colin (@WoS) December 13, 2013
Large, lively open conversations can be fun, but in without some control, it can get vicious surprisingly quickly. #RestoreTheBlock
— Grumpy Historian (@grumpyhistorian) December 13, 2013
And I'm speaking pseudonymously, with no significant security issues. People who tweet under their own names deserve #RestoreTheBlock
— Grumpy Historian (@grumpyhistorian) December 13, 2013
Will Twitter reconsider in the face of this backlash? Or is mute the new block?
* * *
Update:
That didn’t take long. Twitter has announced that it will restore the block function.
We're reverting the changes to block functionality. https://t.co/H3W3V27rKN
— Twitter (@Twitter) December 13, 2013