
To block or not to block, that is the question.
At least on X, because the social media that has been acquired by Elon Musk is preparing to change the functionality of its block button, allowing blocked accounts to still view public posts, according to updates first discovered by independent app researcher Nima Owji.
Owji added that users may no longer see the “You’re blocked…” message when visiting the profile of someone who has blocked them. Instead, blocked users will be able to view public posts as if they were any other user.
However, limitations on reposting, quoting, replying, or engaging with blocked accounts are expected to remain.
Musk confirmed the change by commenting on Owji's post, clarifying that while blocked accounts will still be prevented from engaging with users who blocked them, they will soon be able to see their public posts.
"The block function will stop that account from engaging but not from seeing a public post," Musk said in his reply.
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 the exact launch of this feature, nor its timeline for the change isn't clear, Musk that it was "high time this happened," suggesting that previously, users could bypass the block by simply logging out and viewing the public posts anyway.
While Musk's post was met with mostly negative reactions, Owji thinks otherwise.
He said that the decision is a "good move."
"The block button for public accounts was a stupid feature since everyone could view the posts from their browsers' incognito mode," he reasoned.
So here, this update appears to eliminate this workaround.
It's worth noting that Musk has been outspoken about his disdain for the block button.
In an X reply in June 2023, for example, the billionaire argued that blocking people "makes no sense," and insisted it should be replaced by the mute function.
Then, in August 2023, Musk threatened that "block is going to be deleted."
This isn't the first time X (formerly Twitter) has made changes to its block feature.
About a decade ago, in 2013, the platform made a similar update, allowing blocked users to follow, view, and engage with the accounts that blocked them.
That change, however, was met with significant backlash, leading Twitter to quickly reverse the policy and restore stricter blocks.
While the new changes don’t allow engagements from blocked accounts, some users may still be concerned. Many rely on the block function to shield themselves from harassment or abuse.
This updated policy softens that barrier, allowing blocked users to view public content despite being blocked.