Twitter is a free platform for the discussion of ideas. But that freedom cannot be taken to irresponsible extremes.
Twitter added an in-tweet report button to its iOS app and will add one to its Android app by September. The buttons are an effort to crack down on abuse reported by some users in the UK recently.
In a post on the company’s official UK Blog near the beginning of last week, company officials outlined changes being made.
What is Changing on Twitter
Twitter updated its rules to make it crystal clear the site does not tolerate such abusive behavior.
The new Twitter report button for iOS, Android and the mobile Web should make it easier to report abuse directly in a tweet. Users won’t need to click over to the Help Center to file a report.
The company also says it will expand resources in its UK Safer Internet Centre (and presumably for other users too). The resources are supposed to inform users on “digital citizenship” and how to stay safe online.
What It Means
Twitter certainly needed to respond to the misuse of its system. The question is what the effects might be for average users including those in the business community.
Twitter has not yet been clear on what will happen to users whose tweets are deemed “abusive.” We’re also not sure what kind of investigation will occur when an in-tweet abuse report is registered.
We’ve seen before how Twitter’s aggressive stance on certain kinds of behavior real or perceived can lead to suspended accounts and headaches for users. We’ll have to wait and see.
Blue Bird Photo via Shutterstock
I’m glad Twitter’s introduced the abuse button. The torrent of abuse being rendered, particularly over the past month or two, was at scary levels and made me question humanity. I’m glad Twitter’s doing something about it.
In Malaysia, someone received a police visit and had her computers confiscated at home, supposedly due to a seditious Twitter tweet. I’m glad that it has introduced the abuse button for situations like this.
Diana,
Wow – I just knew that fact. It’s also the case in Singapore, I heard?
Ivan,
Not aware of it in Singapore but rules are more stringent there.
It would be great if people knew that, along with the abuse button, that if they tweet something highly abusive, they stand the risk of a knock on the door by the police. Wish it was applicable to anybody anywhere, incl Malaysia. Maybe they’d then think twice before posting something like that.
Aira Bongco
I have been a member of Twitter since 2008 and I must say I used to use it more back then compared to today. Why? Those sickening ads. Back then, Twitter is all about community – we are real people communicating with each other. Now, it is just all about popularity and alienation.