Get ready for a big change on X! The popular social media platform is tweaking how its block button works, which means blocked accounts will still be able to see your public posts. Independent app researcher Nima Owji discovered these upcoming changes, and Elon Musk confirmed them on Monday. Although blocked users will no longer be able to interact with you directly, they will still be able to view your public content.
Musk tweeted, “The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, [a] public post.” This marks a significant shift in how blocking will work moving forward.
Owji communicated that users might no longer see the “You’re blocked…” message when they visit a profile that has blocked them. Instead, they’ll get to see public posts as if they were any regular follower. There will still be restrictions on reposting, quoting, replying, or engaging with the blocked account’s content. The exact timeline for when these changes will roll out remains unclear.
Musk mentioned that this change was long overdue. Previously, even if a public account blocked someone, the blocked user could simply log out and view the public tweets anyway—a workaround that rendered the block somewhat ineffective.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time X, formerly known as Twitter, has tried to revise its blocking policies. About a decade ago, the platform briefly allowed blocked users to see content, follow, and even interact with those who blocked them, except the account that blocked them wouldn’t see these engagements. Due to swift and intense backlash, Twitter held an emergency meeting and reverted to stricter blocking rules.
While Musk ensured that blocked users won’t be able to engage with accounts that blocked them, this update might still raise concerns. Many people rely on the block feature to create a safe space, distancing themselves from harassers, abusers, or stalkers. So, while blocked users will be limited in their interactions, they will still have visibility, potentially softening those protective barriers.
Stay tuned for more updates on this significant change coming to X!
