Wednesday, November 27, 2024

On performative block culture in social media

I am told Oligarch Musk did something that made blocking less effective on X.  I don't care about what he did, but I think our would-be Ruler has a point. There is something about triumphal blocking that makes me uneasy. It has the scent of High School bullying and community shunning. I think it makes smart people wary of engagement. 

Social media blocks are necessary. That doesn't make them good.

I'd like to see an option for time-limited blocks. I'd also like profiles to show block counts by default, with an option to hide that count. 

How would I use the signal of a high or absent block count?

I would evaluate in context, but often I would not engage with a high block count poster. I would be less likely to follow them as well, not least because tracking who I should be wary of is too much work.

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