X Updates Block Feature, Allows Blocked Users to View Posts

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has announced a significant change to its block feature. Blocked users will now be able to see posts from the person who blocked them, although they will remain unable to engage with or respond to these posts.

This is a significant sidestep from the previous system, where blocked users would receive a “you’re blocked” message and were restricted from viewing any content from the account that blocked them, including replies, followers, and profile details. Musk, a vocal critic of the block feature, had previously hinted at its potential removal, except for use in direct messages (DMs).

In a recent post, he said, “High time this happened… The block feature will prevent that account from engaging with public posts, but will not prevent them from seeing public posts.”

Critics speculate that this change might be aimed at preventing users from bypassing ads on the platform. Others believe Musk’s personal opposition to the feature may stem from broader views on free speech and engagement. A lot of negative feedback has been thrown towards the change, with many users protesting that the block button should provide a way to completely cut a user off from their account.

In either case, it changes how the block system works on a fundamental level – while users can’t interact directly, it no longer provides a way to “hide” your account from others. For now, users can still block others, but the new policy means blocked accounts will have greater access to public content despite the restrictions on direct interaction.