{"id":4249,"date":"2013-12-13T12:30:30","date_gmt":"2013-12-13T17:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.nccomputertech.com\/?p=4249"},"modified":"2013-12-13T12:30:30","modified_gmt":"2013-12-13T17:30:30","slug":"blocked-user-outrage-spurs-twitter-to-reverse-policy-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2013\/12\/13\/blocked-user-outrage-spurs-twitter-to-reverse-policy-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Blocked! User outrage spurs Twitter to reverse policy change"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter quietly changed its blocking policy on Thursday, but the ensuing user outrage caused the company to quickly backtrack and apologize for the change.<\/p>\n

Twitter\u2019s blocking policy as it was\u2014and now as it is again\u2014notifies a user if they\u2019ve been blocked. Blocking a person also prevents them from following you or interacting with your tweets. The brief change in the policy changed the block to more of an ignore\u2014users were no longer notified if they were blocked, and they could still interact with your tweets, although you wouldn\u2019t see those responses in your feed.<\/p>\n

dick costolo Joi Ito<\/p>\n

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said Twitter users had requested the change, fearing that block notifications would only anger the people who had been blocked and may lead to even more harassment.<\/p>\n

But any users satisfied with the change were drowned out by a wave of outraged tweets. Users who had experienced abuse on Twitter were concerned that their harassers would still be able to read and reply to their tweets, even if those replies were invisible. Other users would be able to see the harasser\u2019s interactions, and their replies would show up in Twitter search results.<\/p>\n

The complaints were so overwhelming that Twitter reversed its position on blocking Thursday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarlier today, we made a change to the way the \u2018block\u2019 function of Twitter works,\u201d Twitter vice president of product Michael Sippey wrote in a Thursday night blog post. \u201cWe have decided to revert the change after receiving feedback from many users\u2014we never want to introduce features at the cost of users feeling less safe. Any blocks you had previously instituted are still in effect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Twitter told TechCrunch that the change was designed to let users with public accounts know that just because they\u2019ve blocked someone doesn\u2019t mean their tweets are private. If the blocked user logs out of Twitter, they will still be able to view your tweets\u2014but not respond to them.<\/p>\n

Twitter has faced criticism in the past for the way it handles harassment on the service. In August, the network added a \u201creport abuse\u201d button on individual tweets and dedicated more resources to moderating the site.<\/p>\n

via Blocked! User outrage spurs Twitter to reverse policy change | TechHive<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Twitter quietly changed its blocking policy on Thursday, but the ensuing user outrage caused the company to quickly backtrack and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,10],"tags":[1110],"class_list":["post-4249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-social-media","category-technology","tag-twitter"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/papNkV-16x","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9526,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2019\/03\/03\/outrage-moms-this-week-in-tech-708\/","url_meta":{"origin":4249,"position":0},"title":"Outrage Moms – This Week in Tech 708","author":"NCCT","date":"March 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rzRHMGNsnyI The end of smart-phones, AI fake people, Elon in the ditch again, and more. -- MWC 2019 and the Future of Smartphones and Wearables -- This Person Does Not Exist -- OpenAI and the Text Generator Too Dangerous to Exist -- Outrage Mobs and Twitter -- China's Social Credit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/rzRHMGNsnyI\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9804,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2024\/11\/08\/maximum-iceland-scenario-data-caps-3rd-party-android-stores-nuclear-amazon\/","url_meta":{"origin":4249,"position":1},"title":"Maximum Iceland Scenario – Data Caps, 3rd Party Android Stores, Nuclear Amazon","author":"NCCT","date":"November 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/P5MkCwktKz0 Data Caps, 3rd Party Android Stores, Nuclear Amazon \u2022 Google must crack open Android for third-party stores, rules Epic judge \u2022 Google asks 9th Circuit for emergency stay, says Epic ruling \u2018is dangerous\u2019 \u2022 Canceling subscriptions is about to get easier \u2022 The FCC is looking into the impact\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Software"","block_context":{"text":"Software","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/software\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/P5MkCwktKz0\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9291,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/01\/22\/this-week-in-tech-650-frumpy-rump\/","url_meta":{"origin":4249,"position":2},"title":"This Week in Tech 650: Frumpy Rump","author":"NCCT","date":"January 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/HSn_18byc6k EVs and self-driving cars at CES and the Detroit Auto Show. The first cashierless Amazon Go shop opens January 22nd. Apple HomePod is nearly here. Apple hands out $2500 employee stock bonuses as part of its huge cash repatriation plan. Google wants your selfies. Facebook wants you to tell\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/HSn_18byc6k\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9337,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/05\/06\/this-week-in-tech-665-konnichihuahua\/","url_meta":{"origin":4249,"position":3},"title":"This Week in Tech 665: Konnichihuahua","author":"NCCT","date":"May 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DkivlhEOks8 Apple has its best Q2 ever, despite analyst predictions. 20 years of iMac. Cambridge Analytica must give US voter his data. Unroll.me foiled by GDPR. NPR buys PocketCasts. Change your Twitter password. Sprint\/T-Mobile merger. Net Neutrality vote in the Senate May 9th. Cyber Command gets a promotion.","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","block_context":{"text":"Apple","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/apple\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/DkivlhEOks8\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9393,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/08\/19\/this-week-in-tech-680-hacky-hack-hack\/","url_meta":{"origin":4249,"position":4},"title":"This Week in Tech 680: Hacky Hack Hack","author":"NCCT","date":"August 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7ClMz3MkTJk This Week in Tech Elon's Twitter addiction, $1200 iPhone XS+, Movie Pass Fail, Pai's lie, and more. --Leave Elon alone! Tesla tumbles after Musk laments his \"most difficult and painful year.\" --Google employees revolt over China rumors; town hall meeting shut down due to \"kerfuffle\" tweets. --Apple thinks that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/7ClMz3MkTJk\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9307,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/03\/11\/this-week-in-tech-657-dadgum-cell-phone\/","url_meta":{"origin":4249,"position":5},"title":"This Week in Tech 657: DadGum Cell Phone","author":"NCCT","date":"March 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/KGrJJj_8YHU SXSW features killer robots and killer barbeque. Alexa's spontaneous laugh makes us afraid of an AI takeover. Amazon wants to take over your checking account. Can blockchain reinvent fintech? Android users more loyal than iOS users. Is AI really all that smart? Apple hires M. Night Shyamalan. Millennials love\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Social Media"","block_context":{"text":"Social Media","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/social-media\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/KGrJJj_8YHU\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4249\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}