Musk’s Twitter Blocking Feature Removal Sparks App Store Concerns
- ByStartupStory | August 21, 2023
Elon Musk’s Announcement on Twitter’s User-Blocking Feature Sparks Controversy
Elon Musk stirred up a commotion with his declaration that Twitter, now rebranded as X, would eliminate the platform’s long-standing user-blocking capability. This decision raised concerns that the app might face expulsion from Apple and Google’s app stores due to policy violations.
“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs,” Musk wrote. “Makes no sense.”
Users swiftly responded by annotating Musk’s post using the Community Notes feature, attaching links to Apple and Google’s app-store guidelines. They argued that eliminating the account-blocking function could infringe upon these rules.
According to Apple’s App Store review guidelines, “apps with user-generated content or social networking services must include… The ability to block abusive users from the service.” Similarly, Google Play’s policies on restricted content say, “Apps that contain or feature [user-generated content]… must implement robust, effective and ongoing UGC moderation that … Provides an in-app system for blocking UGC and users.”
What would a more robust mute button look like? Aqueel Miqdad, a software engineer at X, suggested in a post, “We can make mutes stronger, like not allow people you mute to reply or quote you. We can also transfer [your] block list to mute list.” Echoing his boss, Miqdad argued that the block feature is, practically speaking, useless: “Preventing an account from seeing your posts does not work in practice. Anyone with any intent can find out what you post by simply creating another account or logging out.”
Christopher Stanley, head of security engineering at X and a principal security engineer at Musk’s SpaceX, quoted Miqdad’s post and said, “People are definitely freaking out because of what they assume removing blocks means. Most of what they assume is incorrect.” To which Musk replied, “Mayhem over nothing .”
The notion of a “super-mute” feature has been suggested, one that goes beyond conventional muting by preventing muted users from replying or quoting the individual who muted them. Some X employees believe that this could potentially satisfy the app stores’ requirements for blocking functionality.
The decision to eliminate account blocking has sparked concerns about reducing safety mechanisms against online harassment. Figures like Monica Lewinsky have expressed worries about the removal of this tool. X CEO Linda Yaccarino responded, assuring users that their safety remains a priority and that efforts are underway to develop an improved blocking and muting system.
Musk’s move to eliminate the blocking feature aligns with his advocacy of free speech, but it has also raised eyebrows given his own history of blocking users. The controversy underscores the tension between user safety, free speech, and business motives within social media platforms.
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