Bluesky Gains Users as X Implements Undesirable Changes

Recent changes at X are reportedly pushing users towards its rival, Bluesky. The decentralized social platform Bluesky claimed an increase of 500,000 new users in a single day this week. This surge in signups is possibly linked to various controversial modifications implemented by X in recent days.

X users were informed this week through a popup that their posts would now be visible to users they had previously blocked. Although those blocked accounts would still not be able to interact with the posts, this marks a significant shift in the functioning of the block feature, potentially exposing users to increased harassment.

An official statement from X highlighted the current functionality of the blocking feature, indicating that it allows users to share and conceal harmful or private information concerning those they have blocked. With the latest update, users will gain visibility over such activities, thereby enhancing transparency.

The blocking issue is recognized as a safety concern, particularly for individuals dealing with harassment on the platform or those aiming to maintain distance from others in their personal life. Despite this, Elon Musk has publicly expressed his criticism of the blocking feature. The modification, which was hinted at last month, was formally communicated to the users recently, leading Bluesky to swiftly capitalize on it for user recruitment.

Inquiries to Meta regarding whether Threads experienced a similar rise in new user registrations were not immediately answered.

Additionally, alterations to X’s terms of service have sparked concern, especially regarding the usage of data for training artificial intelligence models. The updated terms include a clause stating that users agree to allow their provided text and other information to be analyzed for machine learning and artificial intelligence purposes. This clause was absent in the October 9th version of the terms, as per the Wayback Machine.

Moreover, the revised terms dictate that any legal disputes with the company will be handled by the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas. This court has a history of involvement with multiple lawsuits concerning Musk and his enterprises. Judge Reed O’Connor, who has stock in Tesla, had recused himself from a previous case where X sued a group of advertisers but continues to oversee a separate case against the watchdog Media Matters.

The new terms of service are set to go into effect on November 15th. X has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.

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