Elon Musk looks to “X” out the block feature

Latest anti-consumer measure being floated, but Google, Apple, and the EU may have final say 

The latest nonsense coming from Elon Musk made news Friday, when he announced he was removing the “block” feature from X, or Twitter, or whatever name he is calling the platform this week he foolishly wasted billions to ruin.

“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs [direct messages]” said Musk Friday on X/Twitter in response to a group who promotes his Tesla auto brand saying in a follow-up response “It makes no sense”. The plan is to abolish the “block” feature but keep the “mute” one, though users can still see responses from other users from other threads.

But not so fast – below the response in the “readers added context” section, it pointed out removing the “block” feature would violate app store policies from Apple’s store (for iOS) and Google’s (for Android). However, there are no policies for the web version. The European Union would also have a problem, who could ban the app in Europe if he proceeds. 

But Musk is willing to go through with the plan despite the pushback, even if it means Apple and Google removing the X app from the store and the EU banning it if this interaction with James Woods is any indication. It could harm the platform in the long-term but would not affect those who already downloaded the app from each store.

No timetable was determined on when to remove the feature. 

Blocking has been a useful tool in removing hateful and racist material on users’ feeds, giving them control of what they want to see. But Musk is now threating to remove it in the name of “open and honest conversation from people who don’t agree with you”, said one user. But doing so would likely open the door for more bullying and harassment – and even stalkers as the potential move was criticized by basically everybody, including the Auschwitz Museum and several women’s groups. This would certainly be a problem for those who work in journalism and in the media. 

For this user, the “blocking” feature was the subject of two articles here back in 2014 featuring former Star Trek: TNG cast member Wil Wheaton and former Miss USA 1993 and Real Housewives Of Atlanta’s Kenya Moore (back at a time when this space could get away with publishing that kind of drivel.) Also blocking T Dog Media over the years on X/Twitter includes Mancow Muller, John Cusack, Jay Mariotti, and former Tribune reporter Rex Huppke. Those bans would be lifted if Musk abolishes blocking.

Since taking over the formerly named Twitter in 2022, Musk has cut staff, installed paywalls, alienated advertisers, and removed many features from the platform and of course, renaming it after the 24th letter of the alphabet as this blog compared his purchase of Twitter to Sam Zell’s disastrous acquisition of the Tribune Co. back in 2007, leading to its bankruptcy only a year later and its breakup in 2014. It’s little wonder Musk’s X (when it was named Twitter) received an F rating from the Better Business Bureau (full disclosure: the person writing this was employed by the BBB from 2008 to 2016.)

And while Musk is fiddling around with the block feature, two advertisers permanently suspended advertising on the platform after their ads wound up adjacent to a pro-Hitler account – as one of those organizations happens to be NCTA – The Internet And Television Association, a cable and broadband lobbying group. 

The latest potential move clearly alienates the majority of X’s user base, but would removing the block feature really make a difference in retaining customers?  Those who stuck around and were annoyed by or hated Musk would have left by now, as they feel the importance of relationships with other users on X outweighs any kind of nonsense usually seen on the platform and the fact Musk is a white supremacist. Those who work in the media really have no choice to stick with X as most of their employers forces them to have a social media account and if Musk removes the block feature, it would make working in the field even more unbearable.