Twitter introduces change to 'blocking' functionality but rolls back hours later after backlash from angry users who claimed it would encourage online abuse

Just hours after introducing a policy change concerning its 'block' feature, Twitter reversed the move following
The company received a barrage of criticism from users who said it would encourage online abuse

PUBLISHED: 01:37 EST, 13 December 2013 | UPDATED: 01:44 EST, 13 December 2013

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Michael Sippey, vice president of product at Twitter, announced the decision to revert the change in a blog post on Thursday night

No one can accuse Twitter of not listening to its users after the social media company reversed a policy change concerning its ‘block’ feature just hours after its introduction triggered a barrage of criticism from users.

The San Francisco-based company modified its blocking mechanism on Thursday so users wouldn’t be able to see unwanted followers who would still be able to re-tweet, like, or peer at messages in public accounts of people who had blocked them.

Twitter users took to the service to protest under the hashtag #RestoreTheBlock. They said the changes to the block feature would encourage online abuse and harassment on the service.

Many women in particular said they would no longer feel safe on Twitter, where they say they receive rape and other threats.

Executives held an emergency meeting on Thursday night to deal with the escalating situation.

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‘Earlier today, we made a change to the way the “block” function of Twitter works,’ Twitter's Michael Sippey said in a blog post late on Thursday in California.

‘We have decided to revert the change after receiving feedback from many users – we never want to introduce features at the cost of users feeling less safe. Any blocks you had previously instituted are still in effect.’

The tactic came with what Twitter portrayed as the advantage of not alerting unwanted followers to being blocked.

Twitter had modified its blocking mechanism on Thursday but users took to the service to protest under the hashtag #RestoreTheBlock, claiming the move would encourage online abuse

Twitter wisely thanked users for their passionate feedback, while contending that the block list change was well-intended and well-reasoned.

"In reverting this change to the block function, users will once again be able to tell that they've been blocked," Sippey said.

"We believe this is not ideal, largely due to the retaliation against blocking users by blocked users (and sometimes their friends) that often occurs."

He added that Twitter will continue to explore features intended to protect users from abuse or retaliation.

The mass protest on Twitter was the first for the company since it became a publicly-listed business.