Elon Musk announces that X will allow blocked users to view posts

This change, announced by Elon Musk, has sparked controversy among users who believe it could facilitate harassment.

In a surprising move, X, formerly known as Twitter, is set to implement a new policy that will allow users who have been blocked to view their public posts. While they will not be able to interact with these posts, the change has raised concerns about potential harassment and privacy violations.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, announced the decision on Monday, stating that the "block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post." This means that even if you've blocked someone, their public tweets will still be visible to you.

Previously, X's block function prevented blocked users from seeing any content from the person they were blocking, including their posts, replies, media, followers, and following list. The change to allow blocked users to view posts has been met with mixed reactions from the platform's users.
 

High time this happened.

The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 23, 2024

While some argue that the change is necessary to prevent people from circumventing the block function by using different accounts or logging out, others believe it could create new opportunities for harassment. Critics argue that blocked users may be able to stalk or monitor the activity of those who have blocked them, potentially making it easier for bad actors to target their victims.

Musk has previously expressed his dislike for the block button, calling it "makes no sense" and suggesting that it should be replaced with a stronger form of mute. However, despite the ongoing controversy, X's block button will continue to prevent blocked users from interacting with a person's posts.

The decision to allow blocked users to view posts is just the latest in a series of controversial changes made by Musk since he acquired X last year. The platform has faced criticism for its handling of misinformation, hate speech, and other harmful content. As X continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how this new policy will impact the user experience and the platform's overall reputation.