X’s New Block Update Sparks Backlash as Blocked Users Can View Public Posts”

Elon Musk’s social platform X has implemented a controversial update to its block feature, allowing users who are blocked to still view the public posts of the person who blocked them. The change, rolled out over the weekend, now means blocked users can access a blocker’s content unless that account is set to private, though they cannot interact with the posts, such as by replying or resharing them. Blocked users will also be able to see the blocker’s followers and following lists, a recent update on X’s Help Center confirms.

X has justified the update as a step toward “greater transparency,” suggesting that the block feature could previously be misused to share or hide sensitive information about the blocked person. The new update, the company argues, would help curb this potential misuse. However, many critics argue that the change undermines user safety, especially for survivors of abuse or harassment, who often rely on the block feature to control unwanted visibility from others.

Safety advocates, including Thomas Ristenpart, a Cornell Tech professor and co-founder of the Clinic to End Tech Abuse, warned that the change could increase risks for vulnerable individuals. “For survivors of intimate-partner violence, controlling who can view their posts can be crucial to their safety. Removing this capability could make it easier for abusers to monitor them and trigger further harassment,” he said.

Critics have pointed out that while users can set their profiles to private to limit visibility, this option limits broader interactions for those using X for professional networking or public outreach. Tech diversity advocate Tracy Chou, who developed an app to automate blocking on social media, highlighted that creating barriers against harassment remains vital even if persistent users can circumvent these restrictions by creating new accounts.

Since acquiring the former Twitter in 2022, Musk has repealed several measures aimed at reducing harassment on the platform, including the dissolution of X’s Trust and Safety advisory group. While X says the block update promotes transparency, many believe it poses a setback for online safety, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable users.