X will quickly change the performance behind its block button in order that for those who block an account, they’ll nonetheless have the ability to see your public posts, in keeping with adjustments to X’s web site spotted by unbiased app researcher, Nima Owji. Elon Musk confirmed these adjustments on Monday, noting that blocked accounts will nonetheless not have the ability to interact with customers who’ve blocked them, however they’ll quickly have the ability to see their posts.

“The block operate will block that account from partaking with, however not block seeing, [a] public put up,” stated Musk in a tweet on Monday.

Owji says customers quickly might not see the “You’re blocked…” message when visiting an account of a person that has blocked them, he tells TechCrunch through a DM (direct message on X). As a substitute, blocked customers will see the account’s public posts, like they had been every other person. There’ll probably nonetheless be limitations in reposting, quoting, replying, or partaking with blocked accounts. It’s unclear presently when the change will happen.

Musk stated in his tweet on Monday that it was “excessive time this occurred.” Beforehand, if a public account blocked a person, that person might merely sign off and consider the general public account’s tweets all the identical. There was an simply avoidable workaround, however now X seems to be eradicating that operate altogether.

Roughly 10 years in the past, when X was nonetheless referred to as Twitter, the platform made similar changes to the block feature that was swiftly reversed. In 2013, Twitter up to date its coverage to permit blocked customers to see content material, comply with, and even interact with those that have blocked them. The account that blocked them wouldn’t have the ability to see these engagements, however others would. On the time, Twitter reportedly referred to as an emergency assembly resulting from backlash in regards to the blocking replace, and shortly reversed its coverage to maintain stronger blocks in impact.

At present’s replace from X doesn’t go this far – engagements are nonetheless not allowed beneath blocks, in keeping with Musk – however some will not be thrilled in regards to the adjustments. Social media customers typically use the block function to distance themselves from harassers, abusers, or stalkers. Below these new adjustments to blocking, these obstacles will likely be softened.