In a bid to address concerns regarding abuse on its platform, X (formerly Twitter) has announced changes to its block feature. Previously, when someone blocked a user on X, they could still reply to the user's posts, potentially leading to instances of slander, impersonation, or other forms of abuse that went unnoticed by the blocked user.

On Thursday, X's Engineering account took to the platform to explain the modifications being made to the block feature. According to the announcement, if a user who has blocked another user replies to one of their posts, the blocked individual will now be able to see the reply. This alteration aims to empower users to identify and report any potentially harmful content that was previously invisible to them, thereby safeguarding their accounts and upholding the overall integrity of the platform.

X owner, Elon Musk, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the block functionality on the platform, describing it as nonsensical. He has expressed his desire to eliminate the feature, except for direct messages (DMs), in order to align the platform more closely with his vision of a "public town square." While the complete removal of the block feature has not yet happened, it appears that X is taking steps towards reshaping it to better suit Musk's vision.

The Engineering team at X stated that their objective is to allow users to control their experience while maintaining the public visibility of posts. This change aims to strike a balance between accommodating user preferences and preserving the platform's essence as a public forum.

However, one unresolved issue remains: the effectiveness of reporting abuse on X. Despite efforts to combat the problem, instances of scam accounts persist on the platform. Even the company's strategy of charging users for the coveted "verified" blue checkmark has not proven to be a comprehensive solution. It remains to be seen how X will address these ongoing challenges and further enhance user safety on its platform.

As X continues to evolve its features and policies, it is clear that the company is committed to making the platform a safer and more user-controlled environment. These recent changes to the block feature demonstrate X's dedication to combating abuse and fostering a more positive user experience.