This week, X is rolling out its controversial update to its block feature, allowing people to view your public posts irrespective of whether you’ve blocked them or not. This change has been protested by people who argue that blocked users shouldn’t be able to see their posts. The update allows blocked users to now see some information that was previously hidden from them.
In the new update, blocked users can see your public posts and follow who you follow on X. However, blocked users still cannot interact with your posts by commenting or sharing. They also cannot private message you.
In the past, X’s help pages said blocked users could not see who you follow or your followers list. But now X has removed that information from their help pages. This means blocked users can now see parts of your profile that were hidden before.
X thinks this update will make information on the platform more open and transparent. But many users disagree. They think showing blocked users’ posts could lead to harassment or make it easier for abusers to keep stalking people.
Software engineer Tracy Chou has created an app to let users easily block multiple accounts at once. She explained that while blocked users may make new profiles, any barriers like this update can discourage bad behavior. “Making it easy for a stalker is not good,” she said in a post on X.
The update goes against how most social networks handle blocking. When X first mentioned changing the block feature, many users argued it could put people in danger by revealing more of their posts and profiles to blocked accounts.
