Abuse has always been a problem on Twitter, with the platform\u2019s toxicity a source of constant debate, and accusation, pretty much ever since its inception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Twitter has been working to address this. After years of seemingly limited action, over the past 12 months, Twitter has rolled out a range of new control options, including reply controls to limit unwelcome commenters, warnings on potentially harmful and\/or offensive replies, and Safety Mode which alerts users when their tweets are getting negative attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collectively, these new features could have a big impact \u2013 and Twitter\u2019s not done yet. This week, Twitter has previewed a few more new control options which could help users avoid negative interactions, and the mental stress that can come with them, when your tweets become the focus for abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First off, Twitter\u2019s developing new \u2018Filter\u2019 and \u2018Limit\u2019 options, which, as Twitter notes, would be designed to help users keep potentially harmful content \u2013 and the people who create it – out of their replies.
The new option would enable you to automatically filter out replies which contain potentially offensive remarks, or from users who repeatedly tweet at you that you never engage with. You could also block these same accounts from ever replying to your tweets in future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twitter\u2019s also developing new \u2018Word Filters\u2019, which is an extension of its existing keyword blocking tools, and would rely on Twitter\u2019s automated detection systems to filter out more potentially offensive comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But even more significant, the Filter option would also mean that any replies that you choose to hide would not be visible to anyone else in the app either, except the person who tweeted them, which is similar to Facebook\u2019s \u2018Hide\u2019 option for post comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s a significant change in approach. Up till now, Twitter has enabled users to hide content from their own view in the app, but others are still be able to see it. The Filter control would up the power of individual users to totally hide such comments – which makes sense, in that they\u2019re replies to your tweets. But you can also imagine that it could be misused by politicians or brands who want to shut down negative mentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s probably a more important consideration on Twitter, where the real-time nature of the app invites response and interaction, and in some cases, challenges to what people are saying, especially around topical or newsworthy issues. If people can then shut down that discussion, that could have its own potential impacts \u2013 but then again, the original tweet would still be there for reference, and users would theoretically still be able to quote tweet whatever they wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And really, with reply controls already present in the app, it\u2019s probably not a huge stretch, and it may well enable users to get rid of some of the trolls and creeps that lurk in their replies, which could improve overall engagement in the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to this, Twitter\u2019s also developing a new \u2018Heads Up\u2019 alert prompt, which would warn users about potentially divisive comment sections before they dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The option would include separate toggles to automatically filter out hate speech, spam and profanity, based on Twitter\u2019s system detection, providing another means to limit unwanted exposure in the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These seem like helpful additions, and while there are always concerns that people will use such tools essentially as blinders to block out whatever they don\u2019t want to deal with, which could limit helpful discourse, and important perspective, if that\u2019s what gives people a better in-app experience, why shouldn\u2019t they be able to do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, the ideal would be enlightened intelligent debate on all issues, where people remain civil and respectful at all times. But this is Twitter, and that\u2019s never going to happen. As such, providing more control options could be the best way forward, and it\u2019s good to see Twitter taking more steps to address these key elements.
Social Media Today<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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