24/7 Space News
INTERNET SPACE
Musk says X will scrap 'block' feature
Musk says X will scrap 'block' feature
by AFP Staff Writers
San Francisco (AFP) Aug 19, 2023

Elon Musk said Friday his social media company X would scrap a feature that allows users to block posts from specific accounts.

"Block is going to be deleted as a 'feature', except for DMs," Musk posted, indicating the option would still be available for "direct messages" between users of the social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.

The feature is used to restrict interaction with specific accounts on the platform.

Musk has repeatedly cited a desire for free speech as motivating his changes, and lashed out at what he sees as the threat posed to free expression by changing cultural sensitivities.

Since the tycoon bought the social media platform for $44 billion last October, its advertising business has collapsed, in part because of its looser approach to blocking hate speech, and the return of previously banned far-right accounts.

According to nonprofit organisation the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), hate speech has flourished on the platform.

X has disputed the findings and is suing the CCDH.

In December, Musk reinstated former US president Donald Trump's Twitter account, although Trump has yet to return to the platform.

The ex-president was banned from Twitter in early 2021 for his role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by a group of his supporters seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

X recently reinstated rapper and designer Kanye West around eight months after his account was suspended, according to media reports.

Last fall, West, who now goes professionally by Ye, posted an image that appeared to show a swastika interlaced with a Star of David, and Musk suspended the artist from the platform.

bur-mca/aha

X

Related Links
Satellite-based Internet technologies

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
INTERNET SPACE
Bank of Ireland apologises for 'free money' tech glitch
Dublin (AFP) Aug 16, 2023
Bank of Ireland apologised on Wednesday after fixing a technical issue that allowed customers to withdraw or transfer more money than was in their accounts. The glitch saw large queues form at some cash machines on Tuesday and into the night, as word spread on social media, prompting police to be called in. Some reports said customers with no money in their accounts were able to withdraw up to 1,000 euros ($1,100). The bank warned customers that withdrawals and transfers, including those ove ... read more

INTERNET SPACE
Embracing the future we need

Virgin Galactic rockets its first tourist passengers into space

Russian cosmonauts perform spacewalk to attach debris shields to space station

Advanced Space selected for two NASA SBIR Phase I Awards

INTERNET SPACE
Elon Musk arrives in Japan for first visit since 2014

China's Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches five new satellites

Pulsar Fusion forms partnership with University of Michigan for electric propulsion

China's commercial CERES-1 Y7 rocket launches 7 satellites

INTERNET SPACE
Enjoying the Climb: Sols 3916-3918

Cracks in ancient Martian mud surprise Curiosity team

Engineers put a Mars lander legs to the test

Phoenix's Red Planet Selfie

INTERNET SPACE
China to launch "Innovation X Scientific Flight" program, applications open worldwide

Scientists reveal blueprint of China's lunar water-ice probe mission

Shenzhou 15 crew share memorable moments from Tiangong Station mission

China's Space Station Opens Doors to Global Scientific Community

INTERNET SPACE
Intelsat completes C-Band spectrum clearing for 5G Deployment

ESA's Space Environment Report 2023

SpaceX successfully launches another batch of Starlink satellites

US storms, natural disasters push up insurance costs: Swiss Re

INTERNET SPACE
China's new rules on AI-generated content

Taiwan's antique jade dealers see trade losing lustre

Invisible tagging system enhances 3D object tracking

De-orbiting PS4 stage in PSLV-C56 Mission

INTERNET SPACE
Watch an exoplanet's 17-year journey around its star

Exoplanet surveyor Ariel passes major milestone

The oldest and fastest evolving moss in the world might not survive climate change

Chemical contamination on International Space Station is out of this world

INTERNET SPACE
NASA's Europa probe gets a hotline to Earth

All Eyes on the Ice Giants

Hundred-year storms? That's how long they last on Saturn.

Looking for Light with New Horizons

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.