'BlockElon' rocketed to the top of the list of trending topics on X (formerly Twitter) following a post by CEO Elon Musk suggesting he plans to make blocked posts visible to all.
Earlier this week, independent app researcher Nima Owji posted, "BREAKING: X is about to remove the current block button, meaning that if an account is public, their posts will be visible to the blocked users as well!" Musk has hinted at making changes to the block feature in the past, but responded directly to Owji's tweet, confirming his plans.
High time this happened.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 23, 2024
The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post.
"High time this happened," Musk wrote. "The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post."
Owji later replied, "Good move! The block button for public accounts was a stupid feature since everyone could view the posts from their browsers' incognito mode."
But not everyone agreed. Users raised concerns as to how the change might impact safety on the site, given that many use the block feature to limit unwanted harassment.
Not a good move for females who have stalkers.
— 🎨Paintress April🌸Sunshine Daydream (@PaintressApril) September 23, 2024
You are one of Elon's most consistent cheerleaders on this issue, but your belittling of our safety and privacy concerns doesn't change the fact that many of us don't want specific people seeing our posts. Any roadblock, even a small one, is better than none.
— Cecelia (@Ceceliaism) September 23, 2024
Musk has remained a controversial figure on the site since his Oct. 2022 acquisition of Twitter, with both supporters and adversaries quick to engage on contentious topics.
One such adversary, a parody account with the handle @theliamnissan, reacted to news of an impending change to the block feature with a thinly veiled invitation to amplify the hashtag #BlockElon.
Hey everybody, it'd be a real goddamn shame if #BlockElon started trending today
— Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) September 25, 2024
In the replies, some users reported that they were way ahead of him.
I blocked him at least 3 years ago.
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) September 25, 2024
Within hours, the hashtag #BlockElon was trending.
#BlockElon is the number 2 trending phrase on Twitter
— David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) September 25, 2024
Are you participating? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/vQmprW44an
Much to the amusement of his detractors.
That #BlockElon is #2 trending on his own site has me rolling. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/lfDgmLDXgL
— 𝕏ugene (@BreakingNews4X) September 25, 2024
Participants in the trend expressed their satisfaction, regardless of when they blocked the Tesla and SpaceX mogul.
I blocked @elonmusk about 10 days ago as an experiment to see if X's algorithm would stop feeding me vile, X-rated, Xtremist , misogynist, far-right posts.
— Crispin Hunt (@crispinhunt) September 25, 2024
Delighted to report it worked almost instantly.
Can't recommend #BlockElon strongly enough.
The hashtag has since fallen off the trending topics ranking, but not before its champions celebrated reaching the top spot.
Success! Number 1#BlockElon pic.twitter.com/IyO3gXTYit
— Liam Nissan™ (@theliamnissan) September 25, 2024
X has not yet announced when, or indeed if, the block button changes will take effect, nor has Musk commented on the hashtag.
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