Twitter (TWTR) announced Monday it has introduced an efficient new blocking process that makes it easier to block unwanted trolls. Twitter has added ‘block’ to the same menu where ‘mute’ and ‘report’ are located, making it quicker than ever to block someone.
The company has been under fire for claims that it doesn’t do enough to stop abusive users, which has caused the bird to lose active users, according to the Harvard Business Review. Now, users only have to select a tweet from the account they wish to block, tap the small tri-dot menu to pull up options, and choose ‘block.’
Before, trolls blocked on Twitter could still see the blockers’ content if it was quoted in tweets or retweets, a spokesperson for the company told The Huffington Post. Now, the tool prevents a troll from seeing the blockers’ tweets, as well as preventing a troll from sending the blocker direct messages. The troll is banished from the blockers’ timeline.
https://twitter.com/safety/status/742404025354747904
The blocking feature is one of three main ways users can deal with Twitter trolls. Users also have a ‘mute’ option to deal with unwanted trolls, which prevents the muter from seeing another user’s tweets. Reporting accounts to Twitter is another option, and will trigger a Twitter investigation that may get the abusive account banned from the service.
Twitter’s decision to revamp its blocking option comes when other social media sites, such as Reddit, have started letting users block hecklers and trolls. The new anti-troll measures also comes after the mass shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday. According to The Huffington Post, Twitter said the improved blocking feature is not a response to any event.
Fortune has reached out to Twitter for comment and will update the story upon response.
