Harassment on X Just Got a Lot Worse

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


This week, X confirmed that major changes are coming to the block feature, leading many content creators and large accounts to question their use of the platform. These changes were previously announced by Elon Musk.

Beginning “soon,” blocking someone on X will no longer actually block them from seeing your posts. Blocked users will now be able to read and consume posts from users who have blocked them, though they’re prevented from directly engaging. They can, however, respond to other people’s comments in the replies. Previously, when a user was blocked it prevented them from even seeing tweets from the person who blocked them.

Despite Musk posting that he “will do whatever it takes for X to be the best platform for creators!” this change will harm those with large audiences by endangering their safety, giving them less control over their online experience, and exposing them to more hate and harassment.

Many women online who have dealt with stalking and harassment posted that they planned to set their accounts to private in order to protect themselves, thereby forcibly limiting their reach on the platform.

“It makes me not want to be as active on Twitter. I’ve started posting more on Threads,” Stanzi Potenza, a comedic content creator with over 4 million followers on TikTok, told Passionfruit. “I feel like Twitter has become kind of like an increasingly unsafe platform.”

Qasim Rashid, a lawyer, content creator and podcaster with over 343,000 followers on Twitter said, “As someone who regularly gets death threats on Twitter, and as someone who has had to testify in federal court to help convict someone who threatened to kill me on Twitter… I think this is a dangerous and terrible idea.”

Hassan Khadair, a comedy and commentary YouTuber with nearly 3 million subscribers, said this change could be the thing that finally gets him and other creators to abandon X. Khadair said he was recently involved in a controversy with another big creator, which has resulted in a massive swarm of hate.

“When people are saying things that are just abjectly abhorrent and disgusting and horrible, I want to block them, and I want them to be as far away from me and my community as possible,” he said.

These changes X is making to the block feature will only make it hard for larger creators to engage on the app. “This is going to give [trolls and bad actors] new ways to create posts about you and to create their own avenues to sow discourse and deceit about you,” Khadair said. “I think I will probably deactivate my Twitter account following this.”


TIPS & TRICKS

Four Lessons Creators Can Learn from Professional Wrestling


Outperform The Market

If one of your many revenue streams happens to be retail investing (whattup Wall Street Bets readers), Outprfrm can help you understand how to best invest your money in the public markets. Even if it isn’t a revenue stream now, it could be…if you understand how to outperform the market. Try it now free.


IN THE BIZ


LABOR

YouTuber Marques Brownlee Slams Company For Using His Likeness in AI Advertisement

Marques Brownlee has called out business card company Dot for using his voice without his permission.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

Marques Brownlee looks straight forward and gestures with his hands, with sound waves in the background.

PLATFORMS

preview showing Instagram profile cards

Instagram Launches Profile Cards

Say hello to the business cards of the future.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor


JOB BOARD


CREATOR SPOTLIGHT

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • 💫 How Smosh Survived 16 Years of the Internet

    💫 How Smosh Survived 16 Years of the Internet

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 45 | June 23, 2022 Together with: … Yesterday marked the start of VidCon, and the Passionfruit team is here to give you the rundown of what’s going on in Anaheim. After nearly three years away due to the pandemic, the conference is back, and the energy is chaotic. From legendary…

  • 💰 YouTube Drama Leads to Demonetization

    💰 YouTube Drama Leads to Demonetization

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 44 | June 16, 2022 Creators have struggled against YouTube’s strike system and demonetization processes for years. Following the 2017 Adpocalypse, YouTube began vigilantly taking ads off of videos considered to be brand unsafe. This, coupled with a copyright strike system that can often be abused, has left creators extra cautious…

  • 🎮 Paving the Way for Black Women in Gaming

    🎮 Paving the Way for Black Women in Gaming

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 43 | June 9, 2022 Gaming is often a hostile environment for women and people of color. However, while gaming remains predominantly white and male, a recent study from NewZoo shows there is demand for more diversity in the industry and for companies to commit to curbing hate toward minority gamers.…