Twitter Block Function Changes Spark Mass Migration to Bluesky
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the social media landscape, Twitter CEO Elon Musk announced significant changes to the platform’s block function, prompting a mass exodus of users to rival platform Bluesky.
The controversial update allows blocked users to still view posts and profiles, raising serious concerns about user safety and harassment prevention. This decision has led to a substantial user migration to Bluesky, a competing social media platform founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
Bluesky reported an unprecedented surge in new user registrations following Musk’s announcement. Within hours, over 100,000 new users joined the platform, with numbers quickly reaching half a million shortly after. The sudden influx of signups caused temporary outages on Bluesky’s website as the platform struggled to accommodate the rapid growth.
In response to the migration, Bluesky emphasized its commitment to online safety, directly contrasting with Musk’s recent changes. The platform highlighted its functional block feature, appealing to users concerned about potential harassment on Twitter.
This is not the first instance of users leaving Twitter under Musk’s leadership. Previous migrations occurred when Bluesky initially launched on app stores and during Musk’s legal dispute in Brazil. The Brazil incident, in particular, led to a significant increase in Bluesky users, especially from the South American country.
Interestingly, Bluesky developers have reportedly begun referring to these user surges following Musk’s controversial decisions as “Elon Musk Events” (EMEs). These events underscore Musk’s tendency to inadvertently benefit competitors through his platform changes.
The new Twitter block function now only restricts blocked accounts from interacting with tweets but not from viewing them. Musk has previously expressed skepticism about the traditional block feature, considering it “nonsensical.” Twitter’s engineering team suggested that users misuse the block feature, a claim met with skepticism by those who value the function for safety reasons.
The changes have sparked intense debate over user safety and platform responsibility. Blocking has long been a crucial tool for users to protect themselves against harassment and stalking. Users who need public accounts for professional reasons now face increased vulnerability, leading to widespread concern and criticism of the update.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Twitter will address these concerns and whether the user migration to Bluesky will have long-term implications for both platforms.