Twitter to introduce new measures to curb abuse on the platform

Twitter

This week Twitter announced three changes related to taming rampant abuse that has been on the rise on the platform. These changes are namely:

  • Stopping the creation of new abusive accounts
  • Bringing forward safer search results
  • Collapsing potentially abusive or low-quality Tweets

“Making Twitter a safer place is our primary focus. We stand for freedom of expression and people being able to see all sides of any topic. That’s put in jeopardy when abuse and harassment stifle and silence those voices. We won’t tolerate it and we’re launching new efforts to stop it.”

-via Twitter Blog

How exactly is Twitter planning to stop the creation of new abusive accounts? According to the company, it is taking steps to identify people who have been permanently suspended. As such, the firm will endeavour to stop them from creating new accounts. This focuses more effectively on some of the most prevalent and damaging forms of behaviour, particularly accounts that are created only to abuse and harass others. Do the Twitter egg accounts with zero followers pop to mind?

Twitter is also working on ‘safe search’ which removes Tweets that contain potentially sensitive content and Tweets from blocked and muted accounts from search results. While this type of content will be discoverable if you want to find it, it won’t clutter search results any longer.

The next change that will be rolling out is the identification and collapsing of potentially abusive and low-quality replies so that the most relevant conversations are brought forward. These Tweet replies will still be accessible to those who seek them out. Such low quality Tweets will be pushed to the end of the Tweet thread. If you wish, you can still access them there.

It is good to see Twitter acknowledging that abuse and bulling have become a crisis on the platform and going ahead and taking measures to tame them. Though the efforts are not enough, they will suppress such experiences.

Mr. Felix227 Posts

A Math Nerd and a Computer Geek. Currently a Windows 10 Insider. Interested in AI, big data and AR/VR. Takes a keen interest in developments in the tech, business and social media spheres.

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